Shoulder decisions — 2001

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral hand disorder, bilateral testicular disorder, and hearing loss. The RO assigned maximum schedular evaluations for these disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder and resection of the left clavicle are being remanded due to incomplete information and need further development.

The Board found no competent medical evidence that the veteran's left shoulder disorder resulted from VA hospitalization or treatment, and therefore denied his claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's arthritis of the right shoulder is not service connected, but his current 40% evaluation for a gunshot wound to Muscle Groups II and IV remains unchanged. The 20% evaluation for pleural cavity injuries residuals is also maintained.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 23, 1993 for service connection of his right knee, hip, and shoulder disorders secondary to a left knee disorder.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux, and left shoulder impingement has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding the tinnitus issue.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right toe disorder, back disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The claim for bilateral knee disability was granted with a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor could it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic urticaria, finding that it was incurred in service. The right shoulder disorder issue is pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left shoulder disorder, a low back disorder, a disorder of the middle back, and a neck disorder resulting from VA treatment in December 1985 is being remanded due to new legal requirements.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and probative evidence of a right shoulder disability, respiratory disorder, left elbow disability, or right knee disability in service or currently. Therefore, the veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The VA denied an increased rating for postoperative residuals of right shoulder surgery, currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right inguinal hernia residuals do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as there is no evidence of recurrence or symptomatic residuals. The left shoulder condition was also reviewed and found to have no current functional impairment warranting an increased rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his acromioclavicular joint separation of the right shoulder, meniscus tear of the left knee, and hypertension as there is no evidence of more than slight instability or subluxation in the left knee, and no objective medical evidence of recurrent instability or subluxation in the right shoulder.

The VA Regional Office (RO) in San Juan denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bronchial asthma, molar extraction residuals, umbilical hernia, generalized arthralgia, and right shoulder separation.

The Board denied service connection for tendonitis of the left shoulder as there is no evidence of a current disability and no link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as there is no evidence of additional disability in excess of limitation of motion due to pain or limited motion on repeated use.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and neck pain conditions, as well as her claim for an increased evaluation for benign cystic lesions of the left breast, are being remanded due to a significant change in the law and missing medical records.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for service connection of his bilateral shoulder condition, finding that there was no direct evidence linking it to his in-service injury. The Board also noted that a medical opinion could not be obtained regarding the relationship between the current bilateral shoulder condition and the in-service bicycle accident.