Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, and thus denied his claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, warranting a total rating for compensation purposes based upon individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected non-Burkitt's lymphoma. The rating of the veteran's non-Burkitt's lymphoma was reduced from 60% to 20%.

The veteran's service-connected left shoulder and knee disabilities are evaluated at 20 percent each, effective March 29, 1991. The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 30 percent for the left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of injuries to the cervical and dorsal spines, finding that these conditions are related to incidents during active duty. Service connection was denied for a shoulder injury due to lack of evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a right elbow, shoulder, or hand disability that was incurred in or aggravated by service and not related to the veteran's service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board denied the claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various disorders, including low back disability, stomach disorder, chest disorder, neck disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral arm disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The current rating for the low back disability is 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from February 29, 1984.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection are not well grounded and have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, foot disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and skin cancer are not well grounded as there is no competent clinical evidence of a nexus between any current disability and active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not well grounded. The claims of service connection for psychiatric symptoms, breathing problems, and multiple joint pain are remanded due to incomplete medical records and need further examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including headaches, PTSD, defective vision of the right eye, residuals of injury to the left arm, shoulder, and wrist with vein graft, fractures of the facial bones, and insect bite scar of the right hand. The appeals are all denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or establish new and material evidence to reopen his claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no well-grounded claims for the claimed disabilities, except for residuals of venereal disease, cardiovascular disability including hypertension, and a disability of the right foot.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, hiatal hernia and depression were not well grounded. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or any other form of service connection.

The veteran's appeal involves the RO's assignment of an initial disability evaluation for his service-connected right shoulder injury. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected shell fragment wounds to the left shoulder, buttock, and second metacarpal. The disabilities are currently rated as 20%, 20%, and 10% respectively.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for further development and consideration of the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for her left shoulder disability, including a comprehensive VA examination by an orthopedic specialist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and PTSD, as well as his claim for dental treatment. The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.