Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder and hand injuries, require regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities such as dressing, bathing, grooming, and chores.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claims for residuals of left lower extremity trauma, including scars and right shoulder disability. The original claim was denied in June 2001 due to lack of evidence of a current disability. New evidence received since then supports reopening these claims.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent right shoulder dislocations in 1981. The Veteran attempted to reopen his claim multiple times, but did not provide new and material evidence. This decision is considered a mixed result as some issues were granted (the reopening of the claim) while others were not addressed.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is presumed to have been incurred during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims were denied as his right shoulder disability, psoriasis, and ankle disabilities are not service-connected. The decision did not address the claim for psoriatic arthritis of the bilateral hands.

The Veteran's period of service from January 2002 to March 2002 was for initial active duty training (ACDUTRA) and not considered 'active duty' for purposes of Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits, as it did not meet the statutory definition. The Veteran is therefore ineligible for these benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right shoulder disability prior to August 20, 2005 was withdrawn. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion at shoulder level prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee injury, low back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and sinusitis. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including DJD of the lumbar spine, bursitis of the left shoulder, mucous retention cyst of the right maxillary sinus, and pressure on the brain with headaches and dizzy spells, all associated with participation in Project SHAD. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, which includes arthritis, was incurred during service and is related to his in-service right shoulder disability. The cervical spine disability is also found to be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and thoracolumbar spine disorders due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a shrapnel wound scar of the scrotum and denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder and hemorrhoids. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board found that the appellant did not have a shoulder injury during active service, and his current shoulder disabilities are not related to service.,Diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including benign prostatic hypertrophy, depressive disorder, a lumbar spine disability, polyarthralgias, left and right shoulder disabilities, stomach disability, and skin cancer. The remaining issues on appeal will require additional development of medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not experience an additional disability caused by VA care, resulting in left foot drop after undergoing left knee replacement surgery. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied. The RO granted a 30 percent rating effective October 4, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by her service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder and left knee disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to active service, including a motor vehicle accident in December 1990.