Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a right shoulder disorder at any time since his discharge from service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's claims were not supported by new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings, finding no evidence of additional symptomatology beyond some pain at the operative scar site. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of appendectomy was also denied.

The VA has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and assigned an initial 10 percent evaluation, effective February 25, 2003. The Veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected cervical spine disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The right shoulder disorder claim was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The neck disorder claim has been reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was incurred in service and is granted. The left ear hearing loss disability and bilateral shoulder disorder are not attributable to service.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal on the issue of service connection for headaches prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury and leg injury were previously denied. The RO found no evidence of current disabilities related to his period of service. His claim for prostate disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of prostate cancer, which would allow for presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder did not manifest during service and is not related to his service-connected right shoulder or bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for clarification of her military service dates, additional medical records, and further examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the February 1988 decision. The issue is now whether this condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical examinations in prior decisions.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and remanded the issue of a separate rating for neurological manifestations, including carpal tunnel syndrome. The VA examiner concluded that it is at least as likely as not that the carpal tunnel syndrome is caused or aggravated by the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right shoulder disorder and residuals of a head injury related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is for an initial compensable rating and a temporary total convalescence rating for his right shoulder disorder. The Board has determined that the claim should be remanded to allow for further development, including obtaining additional VA outpatient records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a service-connected scoliosis of the thoracic spine, a psychiatric disorder including depression, or residuals of a xiphoidectomy. The low back disability, neck disability, respiratory disorder, headache disorder, and bilateral shoulder disability are also denied as not being related to her active service. Tinnitus is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a left (minor) shoulder injury and degenerative cervical spondylosis have been granted, with the effective date being July 10, 2007, for the shoulder disability and July 10, 2008, for the cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep disorder disability and right shoulder disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.