Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and back disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder and right knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability. However, the claims for right and left shoulder disabilities remain denied as there is no competent medical evidence of separate and distinct chronic right and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The evidence is sufficient to establish that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability may be related to his in-service injury, and thus he is entitled to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the back, shoulders, hands, and knees is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the right ear hearing loss claim, and that left ear hearing loss did not warrant a compensable evaluation. Service connection was also denied for bilateral foot disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, respiratory disability, neurological disability of lower extremities, sarcoma, bladder condition, enlarged prostate, diverticulitis, and psychiatric disorder due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

The Board has granted a 10% evaluation for the residuals of surgery of the right fifth toe and has granted a 20% evaluation for the left shoulder disability prior to September 27, 2002. The appellant's request for higher evaluations is denied.

The Veteran's chronic cervical spine and right upper extremity disabilities, including a myofascial syndrome of the trapezius, rhomboid, paracervical, and deltoid muscles, were found to have originated during active service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders, but denied them on the merits. The right shoulder and wrist conditions were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence presented.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and infertility (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness) were denied. The Board found no current disability related to the claimed conditions, and thus denied these claims. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for finger fractures were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU, and these disabilities are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral upper and lower extremities, were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflected the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right shoulder or left knee disorder in service and concluded that the current disorders are not related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right shoulder strain. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for an opinion regarding the etiology of the condition and additional development of his Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, bone spurs of the left shoulder, and degenerative arthritis of the right hand were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim of entitlement to a TDIU rating, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right shoulder disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The VA examiner found more subjective complaints than objective findings.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and has therefore remanded the case for further action.