Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for stomach, to include colon cancer, neck and right shoulder conditions as his claims were not well-grounded due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities did not cause or aggravate his right knee, left knee, back, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left shoulder, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's current arthritis of the left shoulder, hip, and knee is not due to or the result of his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left radial head. The Board concluded that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his in-service injury.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder disability, which resulted from VA treatment, did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's left shoulder disability, effective from November 1998. The claim was reopened on new evidence and the initial grant of service connection is assigned an effective date of April 11, 1996.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder and low back pain are being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a traveling Member of the Board.

The Board found that the veteran's claims were not well-grounded and denied them, stating there was no evidence of additional disability or fault on VA's part.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disorder, characterized as bursitis and tendinitis, was incurred in service due to repetitive lifting injuries sustained during his active duty for the Persian Gulf War. The claim is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board found no medical evidence to support the claim that the veteran's current left shoulder disorder is related to service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are not well grounded. The VA does not have sufficient evidence to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, skin rash (chloracne) due to Agent Orange exposure, and sinusitis. The claim of increased evaluation for lumbar strain was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis, pancreatitis, and left shoulder impingement are well-grounded. The claim for arthritis is not granted as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking it to service. Service connection for pancreatitis and left shoulder impingement is granted based on direct evidence from service.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of service origin for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability were denied. The RO also granted compensation for right foot drop, which brought his combined rating to 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder, which is manifested by pain and restricted motion, does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 20 percent assigned under Diagnostic Code 5201. The bilateral flat feet disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and histoplasmosis of the lungs has been evaluated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for the claimed disabilities, including arthritis of the right shoulder, low back, cervical spine, and both knees. The gout of the right foot was not shown to be related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and arthritis of the right hand and fingers, as well as his claim for TDIU. The current ratings are 20 percent for the right shoulder disability and 10 percent for the arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional records. The claims for increased ratings and unemployability will be reevaluated based on all available evidence.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further evaluation of the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability due to lack of sufficient clinical findings in previous examinations.