Shoulder decisions — 2002

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for right shoulder arthritis, effective from February 26, 1996. The evaluation for varicose veins in the right leg remains at 20 percent.

The veteran's right shoulder and back shell fragment wounds are rated at 20 percent, while his right foot shell fragment wound with separate gunshot wounds is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's residuals of fractures of the right radius and ulna, right ulnar radiculitis, and subacromial impingement of the right shoulder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, manifested by chronic pain and limited motion, warrants a 20% evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, status post nephrectomy, diabetes mellitus, left shoulder condition, and low back condition did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's joint pain in his shoulders and hips is not secondary to undiagnosed illness, nor was it otherwise incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulders, low back pain, right hip pain, right knee pain, and right ankle pain as secondary to service-connected amputation.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and traumatic arthritis of the shoulders, both presumed to be related to the veteran's time as a prisoner of war. Service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied due to lack of current evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed left arm and bilateral shoulder conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between these disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for status post right adrenalectomy, finding no major manifestations resulting from the condition other than hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, except for a right shoulder disorder.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the knees and right shoulder, gastroesophageal reflux, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, were not shown to be related to active or reserve service. The Board denied these claims.

The Board found no current right shoulder, left knee, left femur disorders or left thigh osteomyelitis that are proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The appellant's currently diagnosed conditions were not related to his service-connected left arm disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of migraine headaches or a left shoulder disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted but with no compensable evaluation assigned.

The veteran's claims for service connection for macrocytic anemia and shoulder pain were denied. However, he was granted service connection for panic disorder with agoraphobia and a seizure disorder related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disability and a psychiatric disorder, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent for the service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that it more nearly approximates limitation of motion to 25 degrees from side.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection claims.

The Board determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claims of service connection for left thumb and left hand disabilities, as all submitted evidence was cumulative and redundant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease causing spinal stenosis at C5-6 and C6-7, and herniated nucleus pulposus at C5-6, was incurred in active service. The Board found that it is at least as likely as not related to the veteran's head injury sustained during service.