Shoulder decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a right shoulder disorder due to lack of verified stressor in the record.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the service-connected cervical spine degenerative changes, effective May 13, 1995. The right shoulder bursitis and bilateral foot bunionectomies are each rated at a separate 10 percent evaluation. Tinea cruris is rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder and right hip conditions, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's left shoulder disorder is currently rated at 20% and his bilateral foot and heel disorders are service-connected. The appeal for increased evaluation of the left shoulder is granted, while the appeal for service connection of the foot and heel disorders remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability warrants a 30 percent rating, as it more nearly approximates restriction of the arm to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for TMJ pain, elevated white blood cell count, visual defect, arthritis of the lumbar spine, and right shoulder condition as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to be related to service or the exposure basis provided. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum with a septoplasty, but denied service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury.

The veteran's claimed disabilities of the bilateral shoulders, back, hips, and left ankle are not service-connected under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of legal merit or entitlement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the right knee, both hips, back, and right shoulder is not related to service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine or degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder that was incurred in service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's bursitis of the left (minor) shoulder, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The veteran's claimed left shoulder bursitis is denied as not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for his gunshot wound residuals and an earlier effective date for PTSD were both partially resolved in favor of the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee and shoulder conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and denied her claims for service connection. The initial rating for lumbosacral strain was also denied as there was no evidence of muscle spasm, loss of motion, or other disabling symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's service connection claim for residuals of acromioclavicular strain of the right shoulder is granted as his current condition can be linked to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability with right shoulder, arm, and hand disability, finding that it is not related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disorder, bilateral hammertoes, and left shoulder disability are all service-connected.