Shoulder Board decisions

The veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including a right shoulder disability rated at 40 percent disabling. The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection for left leg injury residuals, a left shoulder disorder, and a left knee disorder. The effective date earlier than November 17, 1998, for a 10 percent rating for a left thigh cyst removal residual scar is not addressed in the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a left shoulder disorder, including recurrent subluxation. The decision found that any pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, nervous condition (mental health), organic brain syndrome and dementia, and left shoulder disability were all denied. The VA examiner concluded that the current conditions are not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA clinical records and providing an addendum to the December 2005 examination opinion. The issues of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and increased rating for anxiety disorder with headaches are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's preexisting right shoulder disorder that worsened during his military service, but denied claims for a right arm and neck disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The VA examinations will be scheduled to address his hypertension, right knee disability, and bilateral foot disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depression and organic brain syndrome (initially claimed as memory loss) were denied. The RO also declined to reopen a claim for myositis of the neck, obesity/pluriglandular syndrome, adhesive capsulitis of the shoulders, disabilities of the hips, elbows and knees, nosebleeds, low grade fevers, fatigue, skin sores, bleeding gums, or joint pain in the hips, elbows and knees. The veteran's claims for service connection for sore neck (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability) were also denied.,The RO did not find new and material evidence to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The VA has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the residuals of fracture left elbow (minor) since August 23, 2002. The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a left shoulder injury and back disorder are pending.

The veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision, leaving no issues for further consideration.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral arm, hand, right leg, right shoulder, and neck disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and the veteran's active military service.

The veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as the VA medical treatment did not result in additional disabilities, and there was no evidence of fault on the part of VA.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of left shoulder disability in July 1971, and this decision was final. The RO reopened the claim on September 29, 2003, based on new evidence, but assigned a September 29, 2003 effective date as it is later than when the claim to reopen was received.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the hips, back, shoulders, and arms. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability was granted a 20 percent evaluation for the period April 30, 2001 to May 31, 2002 and a 40 percent evaluation beginning June 1, 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the shoulders and knees, as well as degenerative joint disease of the hips. The veteran's complaints during active service were noted, and subsequent medical records support these diagnoses.

The veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by recurrent dislocation and guarding of arm movements, is rated at 30 percent. His right knee disability, with slight subluxation and painful motion, is rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent evaluation for the right knee disability under Diagnostic Code 5261 has also been granted. The effective date for service connection of a scar on the right shoulder was established as October 9, 2003.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The specific issues of service connection are still pending.

The veteran's left ankle sprain is currently rated at the noncompensable level.,The veteran's status post vasectomy with vasovasectomy and orchipexy secondary to a retractable right testicle was properly rated at the 10 percent level from March 1996.,The veteran's L5 nerve root irritation with a history of lumbosacral strain and narrowing of L4-L5 is currently rated at the 20 percent level, effective March 1996. The appeal for an increased rating remains denied.,The veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder was properly rated at the noncompensable level.

The veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new and material evidence grounds. The RO must ensure all notification and development actions required by VCAA are fully satisfied, including providing notice consistent with Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson.