Shoulder Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for spinal strain, arthritis of the neck and shoulders, residuals of fractures of the left 7th-11th ribs, and rheumatoid arthritis. The appeals were not granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the previously denied claims or establish service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, the highest available under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for his right shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to an increased rating for residuals of right shoulder dislocation and entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is service-connected, with reasonable doubt favoring the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, right shoulder condition as secondary to low back disability, and higher rating for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be unrelated to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate review after a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability was denied, with a current rating of 30 percent effective July 27, 2004. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection for left ankle strain remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left foot injury was denied as the pre-existing left foot fracture did not increase in severity during service. The claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to a material change in the disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete verification of service and outstanding STRs.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right shoulder disabilities was denied. The initial rating of 20 percent for recurrent dislocations and the current 10 percent rating for post-surgical right shoulder disability with residual partial fusion and osteoarthritis were both found to be appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right shoulder bursitis, and lumbosacral strain have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at a 10% disability rating for his right shoulder bursitis and a 10% disability rating for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current, chronic shoulder disability and denied his claim for service connection as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral CTS and left ulnar nerve neuropathy, DJD of the shoulders and knees, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder disability during service and denied the claim as there is not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current left shoulder disability and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as there is no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1 is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The claim for service connection of cervical spine and right shoulder conditions as secondary to the service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1 remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to a higher disability rating of 20 percent for his right shoulder rotator cuff tear, but denied all other claims.