Shoulder Board decisions

Service connection for PTSD is granted effective January 28, 2008. Claims for a sleep disorder (insomnia) as secondary to PTSD and for bilateral shoulder disability are reopened. A claim for a left index finger disability is also reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete verification of the appellant's service during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The RO/AMC is instructed to attempt to verify the appellant's service dates and obtain his service treatment records using the estimated service dates provided by the appellant.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification of a December 2008 VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin condition. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claim of increased rating for the right shoulder injury remains pending. Service connection was also granted for dysthymic disorder (claimed as depression/stress).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were partially successful. He was granted compensable ratings for his knee conditions, but denied an increase in evaluation for his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for the service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to Muscle Group XX of the dorsal spine and to Muscle Group II (right shoulder) have been granted, with effective dates set at September 8, 2011, and July 29, 2008 respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to December 2, 2011 and denied for a higher rating. Beginning December 2, 2011, the Veteran's condition did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophogeal reflux disease and left shoulder disorder, as well as his requests for increased ratings for right shoulder strain and left ankle injury, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, cervical strain, and right shoulder sprain were denied. The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus claim is pending.

The Veteran's claims for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses were denied because he had Medicare coverage, which excludes VA reimbursement.

Service connection for post-operative residuals of the right shoulder and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder was granted with an effective date of October 20, 2000.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are currently rated at 30 percent each since July 10, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and increased ratings for his knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, right shoulder arthritis, elbows arthritis, and right wrist arthritis as these conditions are not related to active duty or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tongue and mandible disabilities are not deemed to be caused by VA fault, thus his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral shoulder, elbow and wrist disabilities did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during his service. Therefore, these conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 27, 2004. The Board finds that a 30 percent evaluation is warranted as of December 2011 due to limitation of motion.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to lack of timely filing of a notice of disagreement for the denial of service connection for degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's claims for other conditions were denied as they are not compensable under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot and ankle disorders, and shoulder, back, and leg disorders. The most probative evidence did not indicate a relationship between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized as a shoulder strain with a tear of the posterior labrum and degenerative changes, has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.