Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete VCAA notification and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability and left shoulder arthritis due to procedural issues.,The veteran is also being asked to provide any additional evidence related to his claims.

The veteran's meralgia paresthetica affecting the right hip and thigh regions was found to have originated during service, resulting in a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left ankle disability and therefore his claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities are denied. The veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, head injury (including headaches), and back injuries lack legal merit.

The veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective August 2, 2000 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, the Board found that he did not meet the requirements for a prior effective date as of August 2, 2000.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and missing medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for entitlement to separate ratings for left shoulder scars and chest scars, as well as an effective date prior to July 10, 1995 for the grant of service connection for a gunshot wound injury to Muscle Group XXII. The effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for neck scars was set at August 17, 1995.

The Board has determined that further development is required before the claims for increased ratings can be adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's skin disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for various disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to link these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder, and thus denied the veteran's request.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability and service connection for bilateral inguinal hernias. The right wrist issue remains pending.

The Board has found that the veteran had chronic left knee disorder with degenerative joint disease incurred during service. The veteran does not currently have a hearing loss disability within VA's definition of such a condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder, arm, and hand disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical-dorsal spine disability is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the rating schedule, and his right shoulder radiculopathy and left shoulder injury are also rated at their highest levels. No new evidence was provided to reopen service connection claims for pes planus with right bunionectomy, residuals of a right knee meniscectomy, and chronic low back disability.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a right shoulder labral tear with arthritis, effective December 20, 1999.

The veteran's severe osteoarthritis of the right knee, degenerative with marked atrophy of the right thigh and leg associated with residuals of poliomyelitis is currently rated as 60 percent disabling.,The veteran's marked atrophy with winged scapula deformity of the left shoulder associated with residuals of poliomyelitis is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (hypertrophic arthritis of the right knee, scar of the right hip, and scars on the right shoulder) prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current disabilities to his service, including multiple parachute jumps. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, left shoulder, and inguinal hernia. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.