Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal on all issues except for entitlement to a compensable rating for perianal warts is withdrawn. The claim of an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder secondary to perianal warts remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, low back disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the claims for service connection and increased rating have not been substantiated by new and material evidence, and the effective date of TDIU remains at December 17, 1998.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury and residuals of a left shoulder injury. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disorder that he contends is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The Board has ordered remand due to inadequate examination and need for updated medical records.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs and a medical opinion regarding whether cold injury residuals from service contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board is remanding the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further review due to deficiencies in VCAA notice and incomplete search for Selfridge Air Force Base treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence on file, and further development is required including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed respiratory disorder, prostate cancer with bladder polyps, traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder, nephrosclerosis, gout, and aortic valve replacement due to lack of evidence of in-service asbestos exposure or other relevant exposures.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent effective June 26, 2000. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability remains pending and the Veteran's increased rating claim for his right shoulder disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative changes are currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence shows that his symptoms have worsened and he now has a more severe disability. The Board finds an increased rating of 20 percent is warranted.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, or low back disorder and thus service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back, right shoulder, and right knee disorders did not have onset during his active service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, finding no competent evidence linking the current conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's skin rash, left joint and shoulder pain, and sleeping problems are all found to be due to an undiagnosed illness during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating in excess of 30 percent for hepatitis B were denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus denying her claims for special monthly pension benefits on those grounds. However, she was granted special monthly pension benefits based on being housebound.

The Veteran's DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, including associated radiculopathy (claimed as condition of the feet and hands and shoulder pain), is not related to service.,Service connection for headaches with loss of vision is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current headache disorder is related to his active service or any in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected residuals of a head injury. The issues on appeal include seeking an increased rating for his head injury, determining whether he has a bilateral shoulder disorder related to his cervical spondylosis, requesting an earlier effective date for his cervical and lumbar spondylosis, and reopening his claim for PTSD.