Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a left knee injury, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for status post left shoulder rotator cuff tear is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from August 3, 2000. The other claims of service connection remain pending.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as incurred in service due to his combat experience. Bilateral hearing loss and shoulder degenerative joint disease are not addressed, as the evidence does not provide a clear link between these conditions and service.

The Board has addressed the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but due to finality of previous decisions and lack of new and material evidence, all claims remain denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development and assistance to the veteran, including obtaining pertinent VA and private medical records and scheduling appropriate VA special examinations.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the veteran's shoulder, hip, ankle, and back disabilities. The right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and shoulder disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service or any incident of service origin.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and migraine headaches, finding that these conditions are attributable to service. The claims for right knee condition, left wrist pain, and left shoulder pain were denied as the evidence does not show a current disability or link to service.

The veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of dislocated recurrent right shoulder disorder are currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for his post-operative right shoulder residuals at a 10 percent evaluation, but denied any increase in rating.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the veteran's shell fragment wounds to the right shoulder and right thigh, as they cannot be clearly dissociated from his period of recognized military service.

The veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for further evaluation and potential increased rating due to his contention of worsening symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has vacated the previous decision denying service connection for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of consideration of new evidence submitted by the veteran after certification of his appeal to the Board.

The veteran's initial evaluations for eczema, peptic ulcer disease with hiatal hernia, postoperative residuals of meniscectomy of the right knee, and residuals of an injury to the left knee were all granted. The evaluation for residual of an injury to the right shoulder was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not provided to reopen his claims. The RO assigned non-compensable evaluations for the postoperative residuals of a right inguinale hernia repair and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus and left shoulder disorder, as well as a retroactive increase to October 21, 1971 for the 30 percent rating for the pes planus. The RO has also addressed the denial of service connection for a foot condition in October 1971 (CUE).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation for his left shoulder disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development of the record, including a VA medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disability is granted, based on direct evidence of a current condition related to his in-service injury.