Shoulder decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service-connected due to a lack of aggravation by her military service, and thus denied her claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left shoulder dislocations do not warrant a higher initial rating than 20 percent since June 1999, when he underwent surgery. Prior to this date, his disability was characterized by frequent episodes of dislocation and guarding of arm movements.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disability from chronic pathology causing left hip pain, bilateral elbow pain, or left shoulder pain. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for pes planus with Achilles tendonitis is also denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability, including as secondary to a service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left shoulder injury with arthritis and right shoulder arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board found that the veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to their combined effect on his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tricompartmental arthritis of the left knee, chronic right ankle disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, arthritis of the hands, wrists and fingers, and chronic osteomyelitis of the left ankle are all secondary to his service-connected postoperative residuals of right knee fusion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities warrant a 10 percent disability rating each, while his lumbar spine disability warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The RO increased these ratings in May 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's service connection claims for her claimed disabilities were not well grounded due to a lack of verified in-service injury and duty status.

The VA determined that the veteran's perifibrositis of the left shoulder does not warrant a higher rating than the current 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's current bilateral shoulder disabilities, finding that they are related to his treatment in service.

The Board found that the veteran's neurological deficits of the right elbow and right shoulder disability were not related to treatment at VA facilities, and thus did not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected acromioclavicular separation of the right shoulder is being remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and syncope. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for a head injury and depression have also been addressed, but no specific disposition was provided.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine and shoulder arthritis were not incurred or aggravated during service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, abdominal pain and infection due to an intrauterine device (IUD), and lumbar spine disorder. The denial was based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current right shoulder disorder was not incurred or aggravated during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder disability, resulting in a denial.

The veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by limited motion and pain, is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran. However, the claim remains denied as there is no evidence linking the current disability to active service.