Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of various joint disabilities were denied. The Board found that the earliest date entitlement arose was November 6, 1998, when the Veteran filed a claim for increased ratings and reexamination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not show that his current symptoms were related to noise exposure during active duty.,Service connection for PTSD and a right shoulder disorder, and an increased initial rating for migraine headaches were withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran does not have a right shoulder disability that is attributable to military service and the Board finds no evidence of such a condition in service or for many years after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including his trapezius strain, is caused by his service-connected status-post fractured cervical spine at C4 and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lipoma of the right shoulder was rated at a noncompensable level from September 26, 2003 until March 31, 2005. From March 31, 2005 to February 2, 2006, she received a 10% rating based on pain and limited motion related to the lipoma. After that date, no compensable rating was assigned as there was no evidence of muscle injury or atrophy related to the lipoma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of his current employment status.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the local RO due to previous delays and rescheduling issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and hepatitis C are being remanded due to incomplete records. Further development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral ankle disability, right shoulder disability, and left foot disability have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination of her service-connected conditions. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for left shoulder bursitis, thoracolumbar spine, PTSD, and allergic sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of tremors of the left hand, obesity, bilateral hearing loss, and melanoma of the right shoulder have been withdrawn. The remaining claim of entitlement to service connection for melanoma of the right shoulder is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for aching joints, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and right hip disabilities due to lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions were aggravated by military service or preexisted service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a disability manifested by tingling and numbness of the shoulder blades or tongue and head, other than peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities with sensory neuropathy of the right and left ulnar region.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be established as they are not shown to be related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including DJD and arthroplasty, is causally related to a parachuting injury during his Army National Guard ACDUTRA service in August 1975. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates was denied as his application for benefits was received by VA on January 18, 2007, which is the date he contacted the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) office. The one-year deadline for filing a claim after separation from service has expired.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including subluxation and partial rotator cuff tear, has been rated at 30 percent since July 2006. The current range of motion is limited to 80 degrees in flexion and 75 degrees in abduction.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic shoulder disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection. The Board also found that there was not enough time between separation from service and the first documented complaints to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant records are obtained and reviewed, including service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for further action.