Shoulder decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the left shoulder or a heart disorder that is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder, left knee, left wrist, and lumbar spine disabilities are related to her military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder and granted a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss with perforated right ear drum.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased rating and service connection. The RO confirmed the current 40% rating for his right knee disorder, but denied service connection for cervical strain and multiple other conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were denied. The left shoulder arthritis is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating, while the left elbow osteoarthritis warrants a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder, right foot disability (plantar fasciitis), and right knee disorder (claimed as residuals of shrapnel wound). The claim for encephalitis was not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The veteran's service-connected DJD of the right and left shoulders have been rated at 10 percent each, but he seeks higher ratings. The VA has determined that these conditions do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include gunshot wounds and degenerative joint diseases, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the shoulders and knees are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective October 31, 1998 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, elbow, and wrist disabilities are being remanded due to the failure of the veteran to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned after compliance with requisite appellate procedures.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a causal link between any of these conditions and active military service.

The veteran's right ankle instability results in no more than moderate limitation of motion, which does not warrant a higher evaluation.,For the left shoulder strain, there is no evidence of ankylosis or other significant impairment that would justify a higher rating. The veteran has mild functional impairment with loss in range of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's muscle injury residuals of his right shoulder gunshot wound are moderate to moderately severe, warranting a 20% rating. The decision is based on the severity of the disability and its impact on the veteran's ability to perform work-related activities.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of service records and examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's injuries in the January 1977 motor vehicle accident were caused by his willful misconduct and alcohol abuse, resulting in them not being incurred in the line of duty. As a result, service connection for these injuries was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability and residuals of fractured ribs are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected cerebral concussion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing they were incurred during active duty or training.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylitic changes, degenerative changes of the sacroiliac joints, thoracic spine osteoporosis and spondylitic changes are shown to have been productive of a separately ratable disability picture that more nearly approximates moderate functional loss due to pain involving the lumbar spine. The veteran's right shoulder disability picture is manifested by X-ray evidence of degenerative changes with some pain but no compensable limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.