Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for low back, left shoulder, and right hip disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder, right ankle disorder, left wrist disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, lumbar strain, left foot/ankle disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The veteran's claim for increased rating was also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for her service-connected right knee and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, arthritis of the left shoulder, and bilateral foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin disorder related to the veteran's military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no in-service injury or disease of the knees, and denied service connection for bilateral knee disorders. The veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to service, but there was insufficient evidence to establish a current disability or link between his current psychiatric condition and service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing VCAA-compliant notice regarding the reopening of his low back disability claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including a lower back disability, right shoulder deformity, left knee disability, mild cortical deformity of the left medial malleolus, herpes, gum disease, right ankle condition, heart condition, and right knee condition. The reasons for denial are provided in the decision.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the right shoulder with tendonosis were increased to a 10 percent disability rating effective June 13, 2006.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development at the RO level. The issues include seeking an effective date prior to January 22, 1997 for a disability evaluation and requesting an initial evaluation for his right shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, right elbow disability, a disability of the right hand and fingers, lupus erythematosus, generalized degenerative arthritis, hypertension, Sjogren's disease, stomach disability, prostate disability, residuals of a fractured right forefinger, and residuals of an injury to the veteran's left side. The Board found that the evidence received since the February 2000 decisions is not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder disorder is not related to service or any service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

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

The veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, including the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder claimed as secondary to a service-connected left shoulder disability. The Board dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected sinusitis, left shoulder disorder, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for chloracne, secondary to inservice exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The veteran's other skin conditions are not shown during service or for over twenty years thereafter and are not linked to his military service. Service connection is denied for tinnitus and the low back disorder and hearing loss issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder, cervical spine, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The lumbar spine disability is granted with a rating of 10 percent from July 22, 1999 to December 18, 2002; 20 percent from December 19, 2002 to April 19, 2004; and 60 percent thereafter. The veteran's frostbite of the feet is rated as 20 percent disabling for each foot.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and right shoulder conditions, finding that new evidence did not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.