Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board found that the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not well grounded due to a lack of clinical evidence linking the symptoms to the veteran's period of service.,The Board also determined that the claim of right shoulder dislocation was not well grounded as there was no medical evidence demonstrating a nexus between the current condition and the veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, malignant melanoma of the left shoulder, basal cell carcinoma of the face, skin rash (acne), abdominal disorder (diverticulitis), headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), residuals of right nephrectomy, cyst of the liver and gallbladder, tingling of the lower extremities, a disorder of the left eyelid with associated loss of vision, residuals of stress fractures of the left tibia and ribs, and chest pain. The ratings for these conditions have not been assigned yet.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for head injury residuals and left shoulder injury residuals, as well as his request to maintain a 20% rating for post-traumatic seizure disorder. The claims were found not well-grounded due to lack of current disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected left (minor) shoulder disorder does not warrant a compensable initial disability evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his bilateral hearing loss was not well-grounded. The other issues were also denied as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service.

The Board found that the appellant's contentions were not sufficient to well ground his claim for secondary service connection for a right shoulder disorder, as there was no established cause-and-effect relationship between his service-connected left shoulder disability and any diagnosed right shoulder condition.

The veteran is not entitled to payment or reimbursement by VA for medical expenses incurred at Valley Lutheran Hospital from October 13, 1996, to October 15, 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for an upper back disability and assigned a 10 percent rating for chronic left shoulder sprain. The veteran's current symptoms include diffuse tenderness, discomfort on palpation of the anterior shoulder and acromioclavicular joint, as well as pain during abduction.

The VA has granted an increased rating from 40% to 60% for the veteran's pleural cavity injury and denied any increase for his right shoulder damage. The maximum schedular ratings have been reached for both conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. However, the claims remain not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well grounded, but denied on the merits. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal on the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for postoperative residuals of a right shoulder rotator cuff injury with traumatic bursitis.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities were not well grounded. The claim for an original compensable evaluation for a right ear hearing loss disability was remanded.

The RO denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right shoulder and scalp disabilities, as well as service connection for rhinorrhea.,Service connection was not granted for rhinorrhea due to lack of evidence linking it to in-service septorhinoplasty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of an injury to the shoulders and neck, finding them not well grounded. The claim for alcoholism was also denied.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and review of his medical records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now remanded to the RO for de novo review on the merits.