Shoulder decisions — 2000

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals, and the Board is dismissing them.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion and pain.

The appellant has withdrawn all issues on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acromioclavicular separation of the left shoulder, with degenerative joint disease, warrants a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his left upper extremity disability claim. The right inguinal hernia claim was also denied as secondary to the already service-connected left inguinal hernia.

The veteran's GSW of the upper left arm is currently rated at 40 percent, effective May 7, 1996.,Service connection for AC arthritis of the left shoulder was denied in October 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and service connection for vertigo. The issues regarding an increased rating were previously resolved, while the issue of service connection for vertigo remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as it was manifested by infrequent recurrent dislocations and mild atrophy of the deltoid muscle.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, back injury, hypertrophied tonsils, and right hydrocele. The conditions preexisted service or were not shown to have been aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a timely notice of disagreement and an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD. The veteran did not file a timely NOD to the February 1991 rating decision, which denied his claims for various disabilities. The RO granted his claim for PTSD in September 1997 with an effective date of October 16, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and low back disorder, as well as his increased ratings for cervical spine arthritis and chronic sinusitis. The decision also noted that VA had satisfied its obligation to assist in developing evidence relevant to these claims.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence of current chronic disabilities for the claimed conditions and denied all service connection claims. Service connection was granted for left arm scars.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, a disorder of the nose claimed as residuals of a fracture, an eye disorder, and hearing loss are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, effective from when his current claim was received in March 1990.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder injury and increased evaluations for mitral valve prolapse and lumbosacral strain, finding that his claims were not well-grounded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and right shoulder disorders, as well as his attempt to reopen a claim for service connection for a right knee disorder. The decision is based on the lack of medical evidence supporting these claims.

The veteran's claims for compensation and increased ratings for his shoulders have been denied. The Board found that the claim of arthritis of the shoulders is not well-grounded, while the claims for tendinitis are granted but with limitations.

The Board has determined that there is no current medical evidence supporting the veteran's claims for service connection for atrophy of the muscles of the right forearm, a right elbow disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The depression claim was also denied as it is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been granted. Service connection is established for a scar on the head, postoperative residuals of medial and lateral meniscectomy of the right knee, anterior cruciate ligament deficiency of the left knee with degenerative joint disease, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and gastroesophageal reflux. The veteran's claims for increased evaluations have been granted to 10 percent for postoperative residuals of medial and lateral meniscectomy of the right knee, anterior cruciate ligament deficiency of the left knee with degenerative joint disease, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and gastroesophageal reflux.