Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the July 1955 rating decision, which failed to grant service connection for residuals of a left shoulder wound. The veteran is now granted a 20% evaluation for this condition.

The veteran's service connection for alopecia areata and left shoulder disability was granted. The left shoulder disability received a 20% evaluation, while the bilateral chondromalacia patella and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and evaluation of the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ulnar nerve injury and scars. The claims of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen various claims have also been addressed.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a temporary total convalescent rating, and increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and right upper extremity neuropathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his polymyositis conditions, finding no competent medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disorder and right shoulder disorder, finding that these conditions were incurred during his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increase in a 20 percent rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical records and requests for additional information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected peptic ulcer disease and macules of the face with macular depigmentation of the back, chest, and shoulders (residuals of tinea versicolor), finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and determined that a 30 percent evaluation was not warranted for the veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of a current disability related to the veteran's service, and thus the claims for chronic low back, neck, and shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, right hip disability, stomach disability, and headaches. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, characterized by recurrent dislocation with pain and limited motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claims of service connection for an object in the right eye, a disability manifested by right foot and heel pain, shoulder injury residuals, and tender right wrist are not supported by evidence. The claim for initial noncompensable evaluation for residuals of fracture, right thumb is supported by evidence.,The veteran has submitted well-grounded claims for service connection for back condition and left index finger injury residuals.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded because he did not provide evidence of a current disability and failed to establish a link between his in-service injuries and any current conditions.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a ruptured ligament of the left shoulder, traumatic, with post-operative scar (non-dominant extremity), and has also found that a separate evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7804 is warranted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee and shoulder disabilities, finding that they do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The ankle issues are pending further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and generalized joint pain are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to active duty or an undiagnosed illness. The claim for multiple joint pain involving both hips was also denied.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the Board is dismissing the case.