Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, the evidence does not relate to a disease or injury in service, thus the claim remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the May 2010 VA examination. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic disability of the shoulder blades or weak feet, and there is no evidence to support service connection for these conditions. The claims for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and gastrocnemius atrophy are denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for neck and right shoulder conditions, which he claims were caused by injuries sustained during jump school. The evidence shows that the Veteran was treated for these conditions prior to discharge from active duty, but the June 1977 rating decision found no current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, upper back disorder, and residuals of a neck injury are not related to service.,There is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound benefits requires additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess his disability status and need for assistance.

The Board has determined that an effective date of October 1, 2004, is granted for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of both knees, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's sole service-connected condition, frozen (minor) shoulder with chronic dislocations, post-operative, is rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that this rating is sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU as it does not warrant an additional disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service records and unobtained Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder/arm disabilities. The Board finds the January 2006 VA examination inadequate and remands the case to obtain an addendum from the examiner providing a medical opinion on the likelihood of these conditions being related to his active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are found to be related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of shrapnel injury to the right shoulder and anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosed condition that can be linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle spasm down the back of neck, spine, and shoulder areas is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The AMC must review this evidence and determine if separate ratings are warranted.

The Board found no evidence of a right or left shoulder disorder that was incurred in service, and arthritis related to the shoulders was not shown within one year after separation from service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his non-service connected cardiovascular disorders were more likely the cause. Service connection was granted for postgastrectomy syndrome and left shoulder injury.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and left shoulder degenerative joint disease, finding that these conditions are causally related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic left shoulder disability or right knee disability related to his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for GERD is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not show a direct relationship to service or any presumptive basis.