Shoulder decisions — 2003

The veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder bursitis have been granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent each, effective from November 18, 2000.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, elbow, wrist, back of the head, neck, and shoulders. The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder acromioclavicular capsulitis and right hip snapping syndrome, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back condition as being proximately due to his service-connected disabilities involving his ankles and knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for left shoulder dislocation with impingement syndrome and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypothyroidism, hemorrhoids, a chronic acquired disorder of either knee or shoulder and ankles, back, and gastrointestinal system. The decision stated that these conditions were not shown to be related to service, including alleged chemical and/or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a shoulder disorder, inguinal hernia surgery, lung disorder, chest pain, macular degeneration, and residuals of scarlet fever. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The right shoulder disability is found to be related to service, and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disability, including traumatic arthritis of the acromioclavicular joints bilaterally, traumatic arthritis of the left shoulder joint, a fracture, nonunited, of the spinous process of C6 vertebra, and traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine, mainly C4-5 and C5-6, may not be disassociated from active military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current left shoulder disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including as a result of her reaction to a small pox vaccination. The preponderance of evidence is against this claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, and shoulder disorders due to new evidence submitted since the last final decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral wrist condition and an increased rating for her scar of the left shoulder. The veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a wrist or hand disability, and the VA examination found no underlying medical condition that would support such a claim. For the scar of the left shoulder, the Board noted that the highest possible evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes was already assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his claimed disabilities and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the percentage requirements for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities at the time of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for disability of the muscles of the right front of the neck as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right shoulder. The Board also found that degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis are not related to the service-connected injury.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and initial evaluations in excess of the assigned ratings are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed shoulder disability for VA compensation purposes and thus, service connection is denied for left and right shoulder disorders.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder bursitis and upper left chest pain (costochondritis), finding no evidence of these conditions in service. However, it granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease based on evidence from his second period of active duty.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding service connection for multiple disorders, including those listed above, due to exposure to mustard gas.