Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right and left shoulder injuries are not well-grounded, as there is no competent evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his current condition to incidents during service.

The Board has determined that the March 1952 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder disorder is granted as of January 25, 1952.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder warrants a compensable evaluation of 10 percent, while his knee DJD is rated at its maximum allowable under current regulations.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychophysiologic musculoskeletal reaction is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new evidence to support his claims or a causal link between his current conditions and his service-connected shoulder disorders.

The Board finds that the veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not file an adequate substantive appeal for all issues listed, and thus lacks jurisdiction to consider these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the knees, elbows, wrists, and left shoulder are not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected shell fragment wound of the left shoulder is denied as there are no residuals identified on most recent VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is a medical nexus between the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and his service, making the claim well grounded. The VA will continue to seek additional records from the Navy medical facility in North Charleston.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as he did not meet the criteria for unemployability due to his disabilities prior to January 1, 1996.

The veteran's left shoulder disability, which is manifested by ankylosis of the shoulder joint, has been rated at 30 percent since December 1996. This rating reflects limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck and left shoulder disabilities are well grounded. The evidence supports a finding of in-service injury and current disability related to these conditions.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined rating is less than 100 percent and he can still engage in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims regarding the propriety of his initial 10 percent rating for mechanical low back strain, and his service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a scar and muscle injury to the left thigh, residuals of a shell fragment wound; scars and muscle damage, left shoulder, residuals of shell fragment wounds; and scars and muscle injury to the left lower leg, residuals of shell fragment wounds.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as failure to establish a plausible or capable claim for PTSD and a neck/cervical spine condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his hearing loss, cervical spine condition, left shoulder arthritis, and right wrist disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.