Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, respiratory disorder other than COPD resulting from exposure to asbestos and polyurethane products, and otitis externa of the right ear. The veteran is also seeking service connection for fatigue and nausea as due to an undiagnosed illness, but has not been examined for this purpose.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of well-grounded claims and potential application of new legislation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and an increased rating for PTSD. The effective date for the increased PTSD rating remains pending.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 50 percent, effective August 25, 2000.,The veteran's left shoulder disability remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders are related to incidents and manifestations during active service. As a result, the appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for increased initial ratings for left knee and shoulder disabilities have not been met, as his symptoms do not warrant evaluations in excess of the currently assigned disability ratings.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder due to new evidence submitted since the final rating decisions. However, the merits of these claims are not decided as they involve a complex medical issue.

The veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, diagnosed as rotator cuff insufficiency and chronic impingement syndrome of the left shoulder, was granted. The right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for postoperative residuals with degenerative arthritis.,Service connection for the left foot disability has been established, and it is currently rated at 10 percent. Service connection for the low back disability has also been established, with a rating of 20 percent. The veteran's gynecomastia condition was granted service connection, with a compensable rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the appellant's current low back, left shoulder, or left knee disorders to his military service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frozen feet and a right ankle disorder, as new and material evidence was submitted.,The veteran is entitled to an increased evaluation for his left ankle disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current right shoulder or low back disabilities related to his active military service and thus denied both issues of entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance and specially adaptive equipment, as well as financial assistance in purchasing special adaptive housing. The appeals were dismissed due to the Court's remand order.

The veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left shoulder/arm injury is not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected left shoulder disability warrants a 30 percent rating, based on limitation of motion below the shoulder level and pain with movement.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a claim for service connection for adhesive capsulitis of both shoulders prior to July 20, 1998. As such, the effective date for the grant of service connection cannot be prior to this date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left shoulder and left wrist disabilities, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as her conditions are not related to her military service.

The veteran's service-connected left shoulder adhesive capsulitis is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.