Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder disability and has also granted a separate 20 percent rating for neck musculoskeletal disability related to the right shoulder. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to service and granted her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left shoulder and right eye disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right shoulder injury, Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The decision found that new evidence submitted since the previous denial did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for a right shoulder disability secondary to a wrist disability. Service connection was denied as there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during his period of active military service or within the one-year presumptive period after separation. For the right shoulder, ankle, hip, and knee conditions, there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, right knee and shoulder disabilities, and lumbar spine condition, are not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not have any injuries to his right shoulder or right knee during periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right upper arm and shoulder, hypertension, and PTSD were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, scar of the chin, and anxiety disorder were denied. The Veteran's service-connected dysthymia and anxiety disorder are rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities did not have their onset during service or due to a service-connected condition, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred during service. Service connection for joint pain, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of a left shoulder injury were not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not result in his inability to care for any of his daily personal needs without regular personal assistance from others, nor do they result in an inability to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment. Therefore, he is not entitled to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claims for reopening a claim for service connection for left shoulder peritendinitis and for service connection for a left shoulder disability, to include as secondary to service-connected left pectoralis scar can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back, neck and shoulder, including as secondary to service-connected right forearm disabilities, and left eye iritis were denied. The Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and records are needed to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder, thoracic spine, and cervical spine disorders are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected trapezius spasm, right shoulder, disability is currently manifested by spasm, pain, some loss of strength and endurance; motion (with consideration given to functional loss due to pain, weakness, fatigue, and incoordination) is not limited shoulder level or lower. The disability does not more nearly approximate moderately severe muscle disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the left shoulder is being remanded due to incomplete development and additional evidence needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.