Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition. The veteran's current left shoulder condition is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of the back and denied his claim for service connection. The left knee issue is pending as it requires further examination.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbosacral spine, bilateral shoulder strain, and bilateral hip strain disabilities are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his brachial plexopathy and right shoulder injury, as the last VA examination was conducted in January 2004.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain, DJD of the knees, and hearing loss have been granted. The claim to reopen his left shoulder strain was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's post-operative hip condition is not rated higher than 50 percent, his migraines are rated at 30 percent, and his GERD is rated at 10 percent. No other conditions or issues have been granted.

The veteran's severe joint pain, including neurological disability involving the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and lower extremities, was not determined to be caused by VA medical treatment.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including back disability, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and various knee disabilities. The evaluations for the knees and ankle disabilities were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the thoracic spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, feet, elbows, or wrists. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and ensuring that all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board has granted a maximum schedular rating of 30 percent for the veteran's left shoulder strain with tendinitis, finding that it more nearly approximates to 25 degrees to the side with consideration of pain and functional loss. A separate extraschedular rating of 10 percent is also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis in multiple joints was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a change in hearing officer status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back problems, left leg condition, bilateral ankle condition, right shoulder condition, high blood pressure due to Agent Orange exposure, and ulcer. The criteria for service connection were not met in any of these cases.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as arthritis of multiple joints, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of exposure to herbicides, asbestos, or radiation during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, finding that he did not have an employment handicap and thus did not meet the criteria for basic entitlement.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 10% and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10% and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The veteran's right elbow disability is rated as noncompensable (0%) and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service or to his service-connected right shoulder disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that the veteran's reported symptoms started during his period of active duty. The other claims were denied.