Shoulder Board decisions

The veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under current criteria. The right ankle disability is assigned a non-compensable rating. Service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities has been denied.

The Board has restored the veteran's previously assigned 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected recurrent left shoulder dislocation with traumatic arthritis, effective as of March 1, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the veteran's current right shoulder and low back conditions. The claims of entitlement to an initial evaluation greater than 20 percent for status post right shoulder reconstructive surgery from December 1, 2003, and service connection for a chronic low back disability are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as his claim for residuals of smoking. The decision also noted that discontinuance of the vocational rehabilitation program was warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, PTSD, and a right shoulder disability. The effective date of service connection for PTSD was set at March 7, 2002.

The veteran's biceps tendonitis of the left shoulder was granted service connection, but a higher rating is denied. The knee condition also received service connection with an initial 10 percent rating.,For the period prior to January 18, 2006, the veteran's biceps tendonitis resulted in limited motion (70 degrees flexion and 40 degrees abduction). A staged increase to 20 percent was granted starting from January 18, 2006.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the shoulders, knees, and right first metatarsophalangeal and right first metacarpophalangeal joints due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of the claims, including addressing whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the veteran's claimed disabilities existed prior to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's swelling of the hands, arms, and shoulders is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or radiation exposure. The condition was attributed to rheumatoid arthritis, which is not a presumptively related condition under VA regulations.

The Board has found that the veteran's right shoulder disorder relates to service and granted service connection for it.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left shoulder arthritis or DJD of the cervical spine, and obesity, allergic rhinitis, or hemorrhoids. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right shoulder disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 20 percent prior to October 15, 2003 and 30 percent from that date forward.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, left shoulder dislocation, tinnitus, and hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between any current right shoulder disability and symptoms treated in service. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability has been previously denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with appropriate notice.