Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected scars have been evaluated as non-compensable. The Board found no evidence of deep, unstable, or painful scars that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with right lower extremity radicular pain is found to have aggravated his hypertension, and the cervical spine disability and numbness of both hands are found to be related to service. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with right lower extremity radicular pain is rated at 40%.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities have been denied. The RO found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

For the period from February 2, 1994 to July 9, 1998 and from January 1, 1999 to August 2, 2005, the Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated as 10 percent disabling. Since August 3, 2005, it has been rated as 50 percent disabling.,The Veteran experienced frequent dislocations of his left shoulder and had significant limitation in arm movement.

The Board found no evidence of a current shoulder disability and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed shoulder disorder. For his mental disorder, the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking current right shoulder and right leg disorders to service, including the Veteran's in-service injuries. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, and denied his petition to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disorder. The decision also remanded one of the issues regarding bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been evaluated based on the criteria provided. The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for increased ratings, and thus the appeals are denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his service-connected right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. The VA examiner found no limitation of motion or additional functional loss due to pain, fatigue, weakness, or lack of endurance.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and reopening of a previously denied claim were both denied. The denial on the increased disability rating claim is due to lack of new and material evidence, while the denial on the reopening claim is because there was no evidence relating to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a left shoulder injury with deformity of the biceps and pectoral muscles was denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim is pending due to remand.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of entitlement to service connection for a lung disability due to asbestos exposure at his August 2008 RO hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and its associated secondary conditions, due to a lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and back disabilities are service-connected, as they were incurred during his active duty. The TBI claim is also granted, with conflicting medical evidence regarding current residuals.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his sleep apnea and any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow bursitis and a left wrist cyst, but denied service connection for a left shoulder disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of left elbow bursitis and left wrist cyst are considered to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of right shoulder decompression and Mumford resection, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate reasons and bases in the September 2006 decision, including failure to address the significance of differing diagnoses and lay statements supporting an etiological relationship between the Veteran's right shoulder disorder and his service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and new and material evidence. Specifically, he needs to be provided proper notice regarding his back condition claim, including the bases for the prior denial and what evidence would be needed to substantiate it. Additionally, he requires a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, but did not assign a specific rating or effective date as it was remanded.