Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for separation of the left shoulder with arthritis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and granted noncompensable service connection for a low back disability effective March 1, 2001. The veteran was awarded a 10 percent rating for bronchial asthma effective March 1, 2001. For allergic rhinitis, the Board denied claims for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case to allow for further review of the claims folder by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and then to readjudicate the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current left shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on hearing loss was withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision. The remaining issues of skin rash disorder, sleeping problems, and left joint and shoulder pain are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that cervical spine, left knee, or left shoulder disorders were present in-service.,Arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred due to lack of evidence showing arthritis manifested within one year after separation from active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any identified disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee and arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that these conditions are part of a pre-existing degenerative process.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the shoulders and heart disease, finding that these conditions are not related to service.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and her diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The right thumb disability has been granted as service-connected but the initial evaluation remains at 20%.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The veteran's ventral hernia and left shoulder dislocation claims were denied as there is no evidence of a post-operative ventral hernia with the required symptoms for a compensable evaluation, and his left shoulder disability was not found to warrant an increased rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability with spondylosis and spinal stenosis, left shoulder degenerative osteoarthritis, thoracolumbar disability (chronic strain of the thoracic spine), and left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the left hip, right hip, right knee, left knee, fingers of the right hand, fingers of the left hand, right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder and right shoulder have been rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent, and thus his claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board granted the veteran's motion to reopen his claim for service connection for a right ankle disability and found new and material evidence. The claims for cold injury residuals of the upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disability were also addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's right shoulder disability effective from May 26, 2005.