Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, PUD, and Scheuermann's disease. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence showing the veteran currently has a right knee, left knee or right shoulder disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder bursitis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence.

Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions as there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current disability to active duty service or post-service treatment.

The veteran's current neck disability is etiologically related to her active duty service, and the Board finds that she incurred a neck disability in active duty service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post operative residuals of a back disorder, left shoulder disability, tinnitus, and residuals of right perforated tympanic membrane. The veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability, arthritis of hands, wrists, ankles, and feet, and high cholesterol were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right shoulder disability is granted based on a combat injury during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and determining whether the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy at the time of his reported right shoulder injury. The original claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder will be reconsidered based on all pertinent evidence.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to July 2, 2001 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that the veteran's service-connected conditions prevented him from securing or following some form of substantially gainful employment within one year before July 2, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joint (chest and ribs) is not related to his service-connected injury to the thoracic muscles with resection of the fourth rib. As a result, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for this condition has been denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee and shoulder disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral knee disabilities due to additional evidentiary and procedural development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for left knee condition, and service connection for gouty arthritis (claimed as gout in both large toes). The claim for service connection of dislocation of the right shoulder was denied due to lack of medical evidence relating the injury to service. New and material evidence has not been presented to reopen this claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, arachnoiditis, bilateral leg condition, bilateral foot condition, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right arm condition, and left arm and shoulder contusion have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claims for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and residuals of left arm and shoulder contusion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, as the provided evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and did not reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left shoulder muscle injury and surgical resection of the distal third of his left clavicle, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent for the former and 20 percent for the latter.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his service-connected cervical spine, right shoulder, bilateral wrist and knee disabilities have been granted. However, the claims of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction remain pending.

The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a motor vehicle accident, including headaches, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, mild joint space narrowing of the bilateral shoulders, and dizziness are granted. The claim for service connection for panic attacks as a residual of a motor vehicle accident is denied.