Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist and hand arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, and right ear defective hearing. Service connection was also granted for left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The veteran's claims for a well-grounded claim of service connection for a left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder are pending.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for a right shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the RO's failure to address this issue in the October 1998 rating decision. The veteran also has a claim for TDIU, which is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities, but denied his claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's triggering of the middle (third) finger of each hand, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted a compensable rating of 10 percent for bursitis of the left shoulder, effective from November 1, 1972.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder is not secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities, and his right shoulder disorder was incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and an increased rating for gunshot wound, left shoulder with arthritis. The veteran did not meet the criteria for PTSD as diagnosed by a medical professional. For his gunshot wound, while there was some limitation of motion noted on examination, it did not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including amblyopia of the left eye, headaches, a left arm/shoulder disorder, and a left hand disorder. The low back disorder was granted with a 10 percent rating, but no hearing loss rating was assigned.

The VA determined that the veteran's right shoulder anterior subluxation, currently rated at 20 percent disabling, does not warrant an increased evaluation.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a lacerated right eyebrow and for a right shoulder disorder were granted, but an effective date earlier than January 22, 1998 is sought.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO discontinued the service-connected disability of residuals of an injury to the left shoulder and assigned a 10 percent evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and a 20 percent evaluation for an injury to the left axillary nerve, effective October 6, 1993.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinea pedis and manum with onychomycosis, but granted a 30 percent evaluation for recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder with arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left below knee amputation as secondary to his service-connected residuals of an osteotomy for hallux valgus of the left big toe.,The Board also denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right shoulder disability due to treatment at a VA facility.

The veteran's left shoulder disorder, characterized by arthritis and recurrent dislocation, is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the appellant's right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and residuals of a left knee shell fragment wound.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and records, particularly regarding the veteran's claimed stressors in service. The issues of PTSD, skin disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, headaches and brain hemorrhage, respiratory disorder, fatigue, vision disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and dementia are all on appeal.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder disability and declined to reopen his claim of service connection for a right eye disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation have been granted. Service connection has been established for residuals of a right shoulder injury, tinnitus, and left knee disorder. The veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation for his compression fracture at L1.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection were not well-grounded, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for hysterectomy, asthma, right shoulder disability, and leg pain are not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a nexus between current disabilities and injuries or diseases noted during her active service.