Shoulder decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's DJD of the left shoulder is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right shoulder dislocation and fracture, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 20 percent.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that the current 30 percent rating adequately reflects his condition based on limitation of motion and other findings.

The veteran's claimed left leg, left shoulder, left eye, and jaw disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensable ratings for bursitis of the right shoulder and tendinitis of the right hand, as well as service connection for a cervical spine disorder, bursitis of the left shoulder, and tendinitis of the left hand. The issues regarding these conditions are now pending before the RO.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spine, left shoulder calcific tendonitis, and right knee disabilities has been granted. The highest evaluation available under the appropriate rating code (60 percent) is assigned for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that a restoration of the prior 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected right shoulder disability is warranted, and an increased evaluation to 20 percent is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected gunshot wound residuals, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 20 percent evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury and ventral hernia, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was granted an increased evaluation to 40 percent effective October 27, 1999. His hypertension was not found to warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome with hand numbness, a right shoulder disorder, a right hand disorder, a skin disorder, a blood disorder, and memory loss, are not shown to have been caused by any incident of service, including as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder, involving Muscle Groups I and IV. The evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's left shoulder disability prior to March 7, 2002. The evidence did not support an increased rating based on functional loss and pain alone.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for service-connected scar of the right shoulder, finding that there was no evidence showing limitation of function or other disabling symptoms related to the scar.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been granted, with the highest rating of 20 percent assigned for his left shoulder disability.