Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for a low back disorder and left hip disorder. The veteran is assigned a 10% rating for his headaches.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for tendonitis of the right shoulder as of June 23, 1999. The veteran's arthritis of multiple joints is not service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar and cervical strains, as well as an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for fibromyalgia. The effective date for a 40 percent evaluation for fibromyalgia was set at April 16, 1989.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current left shoulder disorder to his period of active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's severe arthritis, which was service-connected, substantially contributed to his death from cardiorespiratory arrest.

The Board has granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disorder, finding that it meets the criteria under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to military service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his skin condition and bilateral pes planus, finding insufficient evidence to support a compensable evaluation for tinea versicolor (previously classified as vitiligo) or service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bursitis/tendinitis of the right shoulder, effective from October 6, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic neck disability and a chronic bilateral shoulder disability are not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a link between any current disabilities and active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have granted them. The conditions include a right shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, chronic strain of the right ankle, schizotypal personality disorder, psychiatric disorders (including depression and anxiety), and sleep disorder.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disorders are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are well grounded. The veteran is entitled to a rating of 30 percent for ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine with disc narrowing, postoperative cervical osteotomy, and a 20 percent rating for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic low back strain is due to injury in service and granted this claim. The claim for bursitis of the left shoulder was not well-grounded as there is no current evidence of a disability.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased evaluations of the right shoulder, right knee, and lower back strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than April 4, 1995 for service connection of his cervical strain and right shoulder tendinitis have not been met. The RO is directed to obtain additional medical records from various facilities and schedule the veteran for a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and left shoulder disorder, but granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and depressive disorder. The veteran's attorney was paid fees based on past-due benefits awarded due to the grant of service connection for left cervical radiculopathy.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative residuals, reconstructive surgery, left shoulder as it is not well-grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking the current disability to service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder condition does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent based on current symptoms and medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not meritorious on their own or capable of substantiation.