Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's low back and right shoulder disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his period of active duty.

The veteran's death was caused by septic shock, nephrectomy, and renal cell carcinoma. The RO is instructed to contact the appellant for any missing VA medical records from his treatment at a Philadelphia VA facility, including those from April 19-29, 1995, which may be relevant to the cause of death.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as not well grounded. The RO certified these issues to the Board, which is now remanding them for further development.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the appellant's right shoulder dislocation, effective as of May 1, 1999. The previous temporary total rating was assigned due to surgery performed on February 18, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder and right knee disabilities do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, as they are only mildly-to-moderately symptomatic.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to October 7, 1998. Therefore, the claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on unemployability was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, an increased rating for postoperative HNP of the lumbar spine, and a higher rating for dislocation of the left shoulder. The claim for left chest pain due to cardiovascular procedure was not addressed as it did not involve service connection.

The Board found that the June 1953 rating decision denying service connection for right shoulder and arm disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The new evidence submitted by the veteran, his testimony at the RO hearing in December 1999, did not provide material to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's left knee disorder, chronic low back pain, and left shoulder disorder. Service connection was granted for mixed vascular and tension-type headaches (30% disabling) and bilateral ureteroceles and diverticulum, left ureter (noncompensable).

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, and the RO has granted a higher rating of 100 percent for total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's claim for service connection and VA disability compensation for right shoulder dislocation, status post hemiarthroplasty was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and for an effective date prior to January 30, 1990, for the grant of a 30 percent rating. The decision was based on the existing evidence and the reasonable exercise of judgment by the Board.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to a significant change in the law brought about by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's increased evaluation for his right shoulder disability was granted, but the RO did not separately rate the impairment of Muscle Group II. The case is being remanded to consider separate evaluations and other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected osteoarthritis conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was already assigned.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, and left wrist disorder. Additionally, the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and a compensable evaluation for residuals of a right ankle injury were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition, left knee disability, and right knee disability are service-connected. However, the right wrist disability is not considered a current disability for VA compensation purposes.