Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board denied service connection for residuals of left shoulder and right hand injuries, finding that the evidence did not show chronic residuals from any inservice injuries.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities include multiple injuries from shrapnel wounds and other conditions. The RO denied his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to these disabilities, citing the veteran's employment history and vocational rehabilitation status. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, skin rash, removal of the left great toenail, and fungus of the left great toenail. Service connection was granted for a scar on the right eyebrow with a rating of 20 percent.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes recurrent dislocation and postoperative Bristow repair, is currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has found that there is a medical nexus between the veteran's left shoulder disability and his period of active duty service. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The veteran was granted service connection for certain conditions but not all, and the RO assigned appropriate disability ratings.

The appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including loss of strength and motion of the shoulders, numbness in hands, foot drop, knee replacements, balance control problems, and glaucoma, are denied as there is no competent medical evidence indicating that these conditions were incurred during his military service or due to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the neck, shoulders and back. The claims for impotence, bowel and urine control as well as cystic acne are still pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a mood disorder and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was not well-grounded, as there is no evidence linking the current mood disorder to service or to a service-connected condition. The claim for a total disability rating was denied because the combined disability rating does not meet the percentage criteria of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, with superior displacement of the distal clavicle; degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, with limitation of motion; and degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for a compensable evaluation for degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracic spine was also denied.,The Board found that the appellant's service-connected right shoulder disability is primarily manifested by recurrent complaints of pain, without evidence of limitation of motion of the arm or limitation of motion of the arm to 25 degrees from the side. The cervical spine disability does not show more than slight limitation of motion. The lumbar spine disability shows no more than slight impairment with no evidence of muscle spasm on extreme forward bending, loss of lateral spine motion, unilateral, in standing position. The thoracic spine disability is manifested by complaints of pain in the thoracic region.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder and low back disorders are not well-grounded, as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition and a compensable rating for left ankle fracture, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been denied. The RO has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by abdominal pain, but his lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 10%. His skin condition (melasma) remains non-compensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, deviated nasal septum, and left hand fracture are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the veteran's period of active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected gunshot wound residuals of the left foot and chest region are denied. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a gunshot wound of the 'left' chest region is deferred.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities and denied service connection for arthritis of the shoulders and spine.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder tendonitis, right ankle tendonitis, and left ankle tendonitis. The claim for an increased rating for left ankle tendonitis is also granted.

The veteran's left shoulder GSW residuals are not productive of more than a moderately severe disability, and thus the claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder dislocation and open Bankhart repair requires additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current status of his condition.

The Board found no objective indications of chronic disability related to the veteran's service, and denied claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, joint stiffness and arthritis of the back, neck, and shoulder, and sleeplessness.