Shoulder decisions — 2001

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, finding no causal relationship between these conditions and the veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The claim for a higher rating for the left knee was granted with an evaluation of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities cannot be earlier than November 7, 1994.

The VA granted service connection for recurrent left shoulder dislocation and assigned a 20 percent evaluation, effective from September 22, 1999.

The Board finds that the veteran's current right shoulder disorder and bilateral ear disorders (to include hearing loss) were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in November 1989, and the evidence received since then is not new and material. The claims for psychiatric disability, headaches, allergic rhinitis, residuals of shell fragment wounds of the left shoulder, leg, and toe, as well as sinusitis are all denied.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not caused or chronically worsened by his service-connected right shoulder and left arm disabilities, leading to a denial of all issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before a final decision can be made on the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's impotency is resolved, and his cervical spine disability with right shoulder involvement remains at a 10% evaluation.

The Board granted increased initial ratings for chondromalacia of both knees and psoriasis, but denied an increase in rating for rotator cuff tendinitis of the right shoulder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury, residuals of Salmonella poisoning, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for further examination.

The Board finds that an increased evaluation for the veteran's left arm contusion with bursitis of the left shoulder and probable rotator cuff tear is not warranted, as his current manifestations do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board denied increased evaluations for recurrent dislocation of the right and left shoulders with traumatic arthritis, as there was no evidence of service connection or exposure to known causative agents.

The Board denied service connection for disability of the neck, shoulders and back. The claim for dental disability was also denied as it is not compensable. Service connection for chronic jungle rot and rash was denied. Service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the back was denied.

The veteran's postoperative dislocated left shoulder is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 30 percent is warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The veteran's hearing before a traveling member of the Board was postponed due to an accident, and he is now scheduled for another hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 29, 1996, for his award of nonservice-connected pension benefits. The veteran argued that he was incapacitated and hospitalized prior to this date due to his schizophrenia and other conditions. However, the Board found no evidence supporting this claim and determined that the appropriate effective date should be August 29, 1996.

The Board has denied an increase in a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left shoulder, finding that his disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and changes in the law regarding assistance to veterans.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder, diagnosed as tendonitis with impingement syndrome, is currently rated at 10 percent. The bilateral hip degenerative disease was not found to be service-connected.