Shoulder decisions — 2002

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his excision scar from a left shoulder cyst removal, finding that it did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Board found that the veteran did not have current residuals of a head injury sustained in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of left shoulder trauma and surgical repair warrant a 20 percent evaluation, effective from August 29, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of DJD of the shoulders incurred or aggravated during active duty, inactive duty training, or reserve duty. The claim is denied.

The veteran's service-connected post-concussive syndrome, right rotator cuff tendinitis, status post fracture of the right ankle, cervical strain, and lumbar strain have been evaluated based on their respective symptoms and limitations. The appeals for increased evaluations are granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and granted increased ratings for the veteran's right ankle and shoulder disabilities. The left knee disability is not considered to be related to active military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 1949 rating decision which granted a 10 percent rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder girdle. The correct application of the rating schedule would have resulted in a 30 percent rating, effective from March 1949.

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and granted a 10% evaluation for his left shoulder disability. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the veteran's dorsal spine disorder, which is not productive of ankylosis and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has granted service connection for a postoperative scar of the left shoulder and awarded a 10 percent disability rating for residuals of a fracture of the left fifth metatarsal. The veteran's claim for an increased rating was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's adhesive capsulitis of both shoulders did not manifest during service or due to any incident therein, and no competent medical evidence links these conditions to active service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development of evidence, including obtaining private and VA medical records, addressing the veteran's current claims for tinnitus, arthritis, and cervical myelopathy, and conducting additional examinations.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date for TDIU were denied. The initial disability evaluation for cervical disc disease with headaches was upheld.

The veteran's claim was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA medical examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and granted a 10% rating for osteochondroma of the left knee. The fungal infection of the neck, shoulders, and chest was not granted an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic cervical strain and tendonitis of the right shoulder, finding that these conditions are attributable to service.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals, injury to the mid and lower back from January 29, 1991 to November 8, 1994 or for bilateral pes planus from January 29, 1991 to November 8, 1994. The evaluation for postoperative residuals of the left shoulder was increased to 20 percent effective November 9, 1994.