Shoulder decisions — 2002

The VA has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the chest and a 10 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left lower leg. Service connection is also established for arthritis, which is considered secondary to the service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury secondary to traumatic central chorioretinitis of the left eye with defective visual acuity. The veteran's current rating for his service-connected left eye disability is at its maximum, as he does not have any other non-service-connected eyes that are rated together with the left eye.

The VA denied an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left shoulder, currently evaluated at 40 percent.

The veteran's stomach disorder was reduced from 30% to 10%, and her right shoulder disorder and wrist condition were denied higher initial evaluations.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability and cervical spine disability, but denied an increase in rating for his neck scarring.

The Board has denied service connection for Crohn's disease and right shoulder arthritis, finding no link to the veteran's active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of the right shoulder, right ankle, right knee, or left knee. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The veteran's depression was granted an increased evaluation to 10%.,His right shoulder disability, characterized by recurrent dislocation and degenerative changes with painful motion, was granted a 20% rating. However, the effective date for this grant is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder dislocation and fractured left fifth toe, finding no current evidence of disability or impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, back, bilateral foot, and right knee disabilities, were not incurred or aggravated by active duty, inactive duty for training, or active duty for training. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bursitis of the right shoulder and arthritis of hands, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current cardiac disability or muscle spasms of the neck and shoulder blades, which were not incurred in service. The evidence shows no findings related to these conditions during service and no current disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disorder, a low back disability claimed as an undiagnosed illness, musculoskeletal symptoms to include finger numbness and shoulder and neck joint throbbing, and knee pain. The reasons were that there was no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during or after service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen her low back and right hip disability claim. The neck and right shoulder disability were found to be incurred in active military service. The right calf varicosities did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's request for apportionment of her husband's nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that she did not meet the criteria for dependency and that such apportionment would cause undue hardship to her estranged husband.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of either her cervical spine or right shoulder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected post-operative residuals of decompression of the right shoulder and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, effective as of May 1997. The claim for a compensable rating for the service-connected residuals of a sprain of the right wrist remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and fungus of the armpits, shoulders, groin, and feet. The claim to reopen the residuals of a back injury was also denied.

The veteran's claim for TDIU benefits was denied, and his arthritis of the right shoulder was not granted a separate disability rating.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the left shoulder and lumbar spine, limit his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he is entitled to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.