Shoulder decisions — 2001

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date for PTSD were granted. He is now receiving a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected PTSD since February 7, 1992.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder and neck, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his in-service burns or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, arthritis of the right shoulder, rhinitis, and low back pain are all service-connected. The bilateral pingueculae were not found to be related to service. The urinary tract infection was also not found to be service-connected.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for right shoulder arthritis as secondary to the service-connected shell fragment wound of the right shoulder and also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of the shell fragment wound.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. Service connection was denied for any current eye disorder other than refractive error.

The VA surgery for cervical radiculopathy did not result in additional disability, and the appellant's condition has worsened since the surgery.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that his current right shoulder disability is due to an injury sustained during service, granting service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the law, including compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims are related to service connection and new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative residuals, recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder meet the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating based on moderate to severe degenerative arthritis and apprehension.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder condition and assigned a 10 percent rating. The veteran is also entitled to an additional 10 percent rating for his scar, but this was not addressed in the original decision.

The VA has denied an increased evaluation for the appellant's left shoulder recurrent dislocations, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for facial scarring, but denied increased ratings for left foot, right knee, and left shoulder scars.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine conditions are service-connected, with the right shoulder condition being secondary to his service-connected right forearm gunshot wound residuals.

The Board found that a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a left shoulder injury is not warranted based on the current evidence. The veteran's condition was primarily manifested by rotator cuff tendinitis, adhesive capsulitis, and limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his service-connected right shoulder and left leg disabilities, finding that there was no factual basis to assign compensable ratings prior to July 29, 1994.,There is no medical evidence of treatment or evaluation concerning the service-connected right shoulder and left leg scars at any time prior to July 29, 1994.

The veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain of the upper extremities, seborrheic dermatitis, and GERD/hiatal hernia were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's right shoulder and left shoulder conditions have been increased to 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The evaluations are effective December 20, 1999.

The Board has ordered the RO to provide a VA examination for the veteran's right shoulder and right ankle disabilities, as well as readjudicate his claims. The case is being remanded due to failure of the RO to comply with prior instructions.