Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete hearing transcript and the need for a new hearing. The issues of service connection are still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it. Service connection is also granted for hypertension, but not for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, trembling of the right hand, or loss of memory.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, bilateral knee, and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence shows multiple post-service injuries as the cause of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, traumatic thoracolumbar spine contusion with residual degenerative disc disease with associated low back pain, and left knee with patella and anterior cruciate ligament strain, all of which represents a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for shoulder problems, back condition, and bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and limitation of motion is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent for arthritis and limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder bursitis and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left upper extremity carpel tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder pain, left arm pain, headaches, and neck pain have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The available service treatment records are unavailable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, including a right shoulder x-ray report from August 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not shown to be due to a disease or injury in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acne, left knee arthralgia (status post ACL repair), and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder were not incurred or aggravated in active service. The preexisting conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that they were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the St. Petersburg, Florida RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues on appeal include rating the left shoulder disability, rating the right foot scar, TDIU, and recoupment of severance pay.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C were denied as there is no evidence of current disability that meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current cervical disc disease and left shoulder disorder to his military service, including an alleged accident during service. The claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, treatment records, and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left shoulder injury are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability level.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and left shoulder disabilities are not related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.