Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed shoulder, hip, and lower extremity disorders are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty or within one year thereafter.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a right shoulder disorder or residuals of an inservice right shoulder injury, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD and there is no competent medical evidence linking an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD to his service. For the period prior to May 13, 2009, the Veteran's right knee disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was incurred in service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, recharacterized as left rotator cuff tendinosis with impingement, warrants a 10 percent rating. The Board found that the current range of motion and symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board's decision denying service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety, residuals of rubella, a right ankle disability, and residuals of a dislocated left shoulder is vacated due to the Veteran not being afforded a hearing. The case is now remanded for scheduling a travel board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine condition was not found to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, the low back disability with degenerative disc disease did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, ureterolithiasis was rated at 10 percent prior to March 14, 2001 and above 10 percent thereafter, plantar fasciitis and heel spur of the right foot were rated as non-compensable, and hypertension was not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address his service-connected left shoulder disability and EMG testing. The claims will also be considered in the context of a possible TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder warrants a 20 percent evaluation effective April 2, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left shoulder osteoarthritis, bilateral pes planus, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from various medical facilities and service personnel records. The appellant's right shoulder and arm disability will be evaluated based on whether it had its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that hyperlipidemia is not a disability for VA compensation purposes and thus cannot be granted.

The Board found no evidence of a shoulder condition during service or within the first post-service year, and there is insufficient medical evidence to link current shoulder conditions to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are denied.

The evidence does not demonstrate that the Veteran's current right shoulder degenerative joint disease is related to his active service, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and residuals of fractures of the ribs. The Veteran's current right shoulder disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service, but there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or reported symptoms related to eczema of the hands.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for chronic left shoulder disability, including seeking records from Parris Island during his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, residuals of a skull fracture, and residuals of a right shoulder injury were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination of the Veteran's claimed right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 20 percent prior to May 2, 2007 and increased to 30 percent on and after that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and worker's compensation information.