Shoulder decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred a right shoulder disability, diagnosed as multi-directional instability, in service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a traumatic frozen left shoulder syndrome is denied as the earliest possible effective date is July 18, 1994.

The veteran's fall during a VA blindness rehabilitation program caused a fracture to his right humerus, which required shoulder replacement. The Board found that the fall was not reasonably foreseeable and granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the veteran's left elbow injury was not caused by his service-connected left knee disability and denied both claims for residuals of a left elbow injury and residuals of a right shoulder injury.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The RO granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder, effective January 1, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability had significantly improved, allowing for a reduction in his disability evaluation from 30 percent to 20 percent effective March 1, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist and shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, nor are they related to a service-connected condition. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and right elbow as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of right humerus fracture, with a current evaluation of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability on a direct basis due to new and material evidence. However, arthritis of the shoulders, knees, and feet is not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for left shoulder impingement syndrome, residuals of a left wrist fracture, and recurrent lumbosacral strain.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the lack of a timely filed substantive appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder disorder, left ring finger disorder, skin rash, and back disorder.

The Board denied reopening of the right shoulder disorder claim due to lack of new and material evidence. The lower cervical spine disorder claim was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left arm, shoulder, and neck injuries as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's post-operative subluxation of the right shoulder has been characterized by pain and limitation in arm motion, allowing for raising the arm to at least midway between side and shoulder level even during flare-ups. An evaluation in excess of 30 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder bursitis has been submitted, allowing the claim to proceed.

The VA granted service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder and assigned a 20 percent evaluation, effective June 16, 1999. The veteran appealed this decision, but the Board found that his disability did not warrant an increase beyond the current rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran not perfecting his appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes arthritis and rotator cuff injury, warrants a 30 percent rating based on its manifestations of pain, limitation of motion, and weakened movement. The current evidence does not support an increase in the disability rating.