Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left and right wrist disorders, left knee disorder, and sinusitis/pharyngitis. Service connection was denied for allergies, fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and possibly a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder disability, right ankle condition (broken right leg), back disability, transient ischemic attack, and headaches have been granted.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective date for the grant of service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability is March 5, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The underlying causes of death were sepsis and pneumonia, which are not related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability was aggravated by active service. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The claims for arthritis of the lumbar spine, hands, elbows, and shoulders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is characterized by forward elevation and abduction of the right shoulder at 90 degrees, with pain and other functional loss. The Board has determined that a higher 20 percent rating is warranted for his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his service and denies his claim for service connection.

The appellant is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected scalenus anticus syndrome of the right shoulder. The RO has denied this claim, stating that the current symptoms are not related to the service-connected disorder and should be rated separately.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's neck and right shoulder disabilities.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the right shoulder disability, finding that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed left shoulder disability and facial skin disorder. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder shrapnel wound caused or contributed to his death from lung cancer, arteriosclerotic heart disease and Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left clavicle and shoulder disability, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year after separation. The right knee claim was also denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tear with severe impingement syndrome of right shoulder, was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right wrist fracture, residuals, traumatic arthritis, and non-union of carpal scaphoid.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His right knee disability was rated at 20 percent, his lumbosacral spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 26, 2003, and 10 percent thereafter, his right shoulder disability was not granted service connection, and his left shoulder disability was also not granted service connection. The appeal for cervical spine disability with bilateral hand numbness was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wounds to the left shoulder and neck have been granted increased ratings, with a current evaluation of 50 percent for the shoulder disability and 30 percent for the neck disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral shoulder pain and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches.