Shoulder decisions — 2006

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for arthritis of the left shoulder, effective from June 19, 2005. The temporary total evaluation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 4.30 for convalescence following left shoulder surgery in November 2000 is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his burn scars and the etiology of his irritable bowel syndrome and reflux.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for left shoulder impingement and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current separately diagnosed disabilities claimed as pain of the right shoulder, left shoulder, right arm, right side, right ankle, right leg, right hip, and right foot. As such, service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the veteran not timely perfecting an appeal on his claim to reopen the issue of service connection for fungus of the feet. The claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disorders were denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, finding that there was no chronicity or continuity of symptomatology and concluding that the current right shoulder disorder is not related to military service.

The veteran's service-connected superficial shell fragment wounds of the right arm, shoulder, and scapular area are currently rated at 20 percent. The veteran's service-connected superficial shell fragment wounds of both forearms do not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his injury to thoracic muscles with resection of the fourth rib was denied. The Board found that a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes is not warranted, as he currently receives the maximum allowable rating (20%). The issue of entitlement to compensation for osteoarthritits of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joint (chest and ribs), claimed as secondary to his service-connected injury to the thoracic muscles with resection of 4th rib under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is addressed in this REMAND portion.

The veteran's skin, low back, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities were not shown to be related to his military service. The Board denied the claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for chronic right shoulder, eye, sinus, or bronchitis disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression claim is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between service and her current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder was rated as 50% disabling since November 3, 2005.,Prior to that date, he received a 50% rating for his right shoulder disability. The effective date is set at November 3, 2005.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability and denied it. The veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his lower back disability, TDIU, and service connection for fibromyalgia are also addressed.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic left shoulder disability or diverticulitis present in service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of any nexus between these conditions and service. The veteran's claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, with no new and material evidence received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for right shoulder and bilateral hip disorders due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various disabilities, including a nasal fracture, right knee disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and left shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 23, 1999 for a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's post-operative fused right shoulder. The decision is based on evidence showing that the veteran had significant functional impairment due to pain and limited motion from this condition.

The veteran's torn ligaments of right heel claim is denied. His acquired psychiatric disorder and right shoulder disability claims are pending and will be remanded to determine their etiology.