Shoulder decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left shoulder disability was incurred during his period of active duty. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not well grounded.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and review of medical records.

The veteran's left shoulder disability was evaluated at 20% prior to July 28, 1998 and at 30% as of that date. The Board found the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating.,There is no indication in the provided decision summary that any new or material evidence reopened the claim.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected sacroiliac strain, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under VA's Rating Schedule.

The veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative residuals of sebaceous cysts of the scrotum is granted.,The veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for a mixed headache disorder and for residuals of viral meningitis with low back pain, as well as compensable ratings for sinusitis, right shoulder tendonitis, and residuals of viral meningitis with cervical rigidity are considered well grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an upper back disability, residuals of bilateral shoulder surgeries, a psychiatric disability, and a jaw disability (including basal cell carcinoma) are not well grounded. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current shoulder conditions to his military service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite and degenerative arthritis of the knees, low back, shoulders, hands, and elbows due to a lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for sinusitis, COPD, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, and osteoarthritis of the left knee as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between these conditions and any period of active service.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the veteran's left shoulder disability, hypertension, and folliculitis barbae. The veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran's current right and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service, including arthritis of the shoulders. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluation for his claimed conditions, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include impingement syndrome and calcific tendonitis of the right shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, and traumatic arthritis of the left index and ring fingers, effectively preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left shoulder injury resulting from his August 14, 1997 fall at a VA medical facility is granted. However, the claim for additional disability of the left leg due to the same incident is not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to May 4, 1998, for the grant of service connection for the residuals of a left shoulder injury. The decision found that the claim was not well-grounded and that the correct facts were before the adjudicator.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ear disorder, to include bilateral hearing loss is well grounded. However, further examination and development are needed before the merits of this claim can be evaluated.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a dislocated left knee and a fractured right clavicle with loss of motion of the right shoulder are denied as not well grounded. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sarcoidosis, residuals of a gunshot wound involving Muscle Group XXI, and residuals of a gunshot wound involving Muscle Group I were all denied by the RO. The VA determined that the veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes was granted, effective June 7, 1996.

The Board has accepted the veteran's withdrawal of appeals for other issues and is proceeding with the right shoulder disability claim. Additional development, including a comprehensive orthopedic examination, is needed to determine the severity of the right shoulder disability.