Shoulder decisions — 2005

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance, entitling him to special monthly compensation. He also meets criteria for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee, status post right anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, hypertension, and residuals of a left shoulder injury.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The appeals are all based on reopening of previously denied claims, and the issues involve new evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability did not require additional convalescence beyond June 30, 1993 for his surgery.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new evidence, but has denied the claim on the merits as there is no causal link between his current neck and shoulder disabilities and his military service.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder disability effective December 13, 2004. The veteran also received an earlier effective date of September 26, 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot injury and found that the veteran's current right foot condition is related to injuries sustained during his military service. The issues of increased ratings for the right shoulder disability, right knee instability, and limitation of motion in the right knee are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for her right shoulder disability, service connection for a neuropsychiatric condition, and service connection for facial trauma.,There is no evidence of any current neuropsychiatric or facial trauma conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left arm and shoulder disorder, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability and to a TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's impingement syndrome of the right shoulder warrants a rating of 20 percent, resolving any doubt in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for a shoulder disorder, finding that the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service and that any current shoulder disability is not related to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a right shoulder fracture and hearing loss as a result of treatment at VA facilities in August 1997, finding that there was no evidence to support the claim.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder injury during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected scar of the left shoulder does not warrant a compensable initial rating under VA's rating criteria, as there are no significant objective manifestations of disability attributable to this condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a disability in service or within one year following service, and the Board found that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The veteran's service-connected shoulder disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, with no higher ratings possible under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or significant functional loss, and the current conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the destruction of his service medical records and the need to obtain additional evidence, including physical examinations from civilian employment and morning reports from military training.

The veteran's claimed knee, elbow, and shoulder disorders are not considered to have been incurred or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the symptoms he experienced were due to known clinical diagnoses and do not meet the criteria for service connection.