Shoulder Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The arthritis claim was considered both on a primary basis and as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of right-sided C5-C6 stenosis and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a duodenal ulcer, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus.

The veteran's request for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) is inextricably intertwined with his claims for service connection for various disabilities. The appeal of eligibility for RH is held in abeyance pending resolution of the service connection claims.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disability, fatigue, memory loss, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a skin disorder. The appeal is based on presumptive service connection due to exposure in the Gulf War.

The RO denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. Further development is needed to determine if there is a causal relationship between the veteran's service-connected condition and his current right shoulder disorder.

The Board determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the VA examination in April 1999.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new regulations and evidence requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and evidence. The veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder and an increased evaluation for PTSD will be reconsidered.

The veteran's fatigue and migraine headaches are presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness that developed during service. The left knee arthritis is also presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic bursitis of the right shoulder and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board finds that the veteran's disability, characterized as residuals of shell fragment wounds to the neck and left shoulder area with a history of left shoulder sprain, does not warrant an evaluation greater than 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for upper back strain, right shoulder strain, a left shoulder disorder, and hemorrhoids were denied. His claim for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for hearing loss was also denied.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not require regular aid and attendance or be considered housebound due to his disabilities.,VA determined that recovery of the overpayment is against equity and good conscience, considering factors such as the appellant's lack of fraud and undue financial hardship.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's left shoulder disability to 20 percent, effective from when the current rating was assigned in April 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, and the effective date for the increased evaluations is denied.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his left shoulder disability was granted, with a 30 percent evaluation effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, neck injury, kidney/bladder disability, vision problems (undiagnosed), depression (undiagnosed), TMJ (undiagnosed), fibromyalgia (undiagnosed), and gastrointestinal disability (undiagnosed).

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, but denied service connection for a left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred during service.