Shoulder decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, right ear disability, bilateral hip and shoulder disabilities. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as there was no evidence of unemployability prior to May 2, 1996.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right shoulder, and low back disabilities due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for degenerative changes of the cervical spine, effective from when this decision is issued. The left shoulder bursitis and right shoulder bursitis have been rated as noncompensable due to lack of limitation of motion or x-ray evidence of arthritis.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied service connection for PTSD. The Board also found no evidence of arthritis of the shoulders or hips related to active service, leading to denial of those claims.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to her service in the Persian Gulf, and thus denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of his left leg, hip and shoulder conditions as secondary to his service-connected back injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his shell fragment wound scars of the left cheek and buttocks. The RO is directed to schedule the veteran for VA examinations to determine if he has any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted the veteran a 20 percent rating for DJD of the left shoulder, but the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his left shoulder strain, aseptic meningitis, and post-concussion syndrome with blurred vision and photophobia. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right shoulder disorder related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with multiple plantar tylomas and forefoot varus deformity is characterized by pain, swelling, calluses, and a forefoot varus deformity that requires monthly to bimonthly treatment. The RO granted service connection for this condition and assigned a 30 percent rating effective from March 14, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and right shoulder disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, including medical records from Dr. Fisher and an examination by VA.

The Board found that the veteran's VA disability compensation benefits are subject to withholding in order to recoup an erroneous reimbursement of non-disability separation pay received by him, and upheld the RO's decision.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection were denied. The veteran died in September 1998, with the RO determining that his residuals of a gunshot wound of the right shoulder warranted a 40 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The appeals were based on the merits of the cases.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current pes planus, left knee disorder, or right shoulder disorder linked to active service.