Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of a right shoulder injury do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, as her range of motion is above shoulder level and she does not have impairment of the humerus. The current rating of 10 percent is therefore maintained.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left shoulder disability, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left acromioclavicular separation with arthritis and increased rating for residuals of a left shoulder gunshot wound.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability is well grounded. The Board agrees that the VA examination used to deny him a compensable rating was too old and ordered further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative dislocated right shoulder does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an increase in severity during service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were not well grounded, as there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids, headaches, and a deviated nasal septum. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder was dismissed due to lack of timely appeal. Service connection for a left elbow disability was not reopened as it had already been denied in 1982.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the appellant's current knee, shoulder, and lumbosacral strain disorders to his military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric, right shoulder, and back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of chronicity in service.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's calcific tendonitis of the right shoulder, effective August 1, 1995. The decision did not address the Peyronie's disease and left varicocele.

The veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes recurrent dislocation and post-operative capsulorrhaphy with degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has denied an increased evaluation for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's bursitis of the right shoulder warranted a 10 percent disability rating, as his range of motion was within normal limits and he did not exhibit significant functional impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder disability and an increased rating for his right ankle fracture. The claim for individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of multiple joints and disorders of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, gastrointestinal system, genitourinary system, skin, and neurological systems, are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to these current disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for cardiovascular disorder to include hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder disability. The RO is directed to obtain relevant medical records from Fort Rucker and other sources.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a broken nose, sinusitis, arthritis, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and emphysema, are not well-grounded. The evidence did not show any in-service injury or disease that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and will be reviewed on their merits. The veteran is entitled to service connection for headaches, but not for multiple joint arthritis or arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of right shoulder and neck disabilities, as well as his claim for fractures of hip and pelvis. The decision also noted that the veteran did not file a timely appeal regarding these issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and skin disabilities, as well as applications to reopen claims of service connection for back, neck, and shoulder disabilities. The claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a back disability caused or aggravated by a myelogram performed in 1966 was also denied.