Shoulder decisions — 2006

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and left thumb degenerative joint disease, but denied his claims for increased ratings for other conditions. The veteran is currently rated 10% for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, hepatitis with liver damage, and residuals of a left elbow injury as they are not related to his active duty or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left (minor) shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a higher evaluation based on functional loss or limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a disability of the knees, back, or right shoulder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of residuals of a fracture, right clavicle and right shoulder. The veteran's claim for service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including right rib fractures, collapsed lung, right ankle and shoulder tendonitis, and jaw fracture, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's service connection claims for joint pain of the feet, hands, and shoulders, as well as fatigue and sleep disturbance, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, refractive error (claimed as poor eyesight), asthma, bronchitis, bursitis of the left shoulder, mood disorder due to sarcoidosis and depression, rash, and hypertension are not established by the evidence of record. The conditions were either not caused by service or have no relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for post-operative chondromalacia of the left knee and right shoulder rotator cuff syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on current symptoms or additional disability due to arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, a systolic murmur, dysplasia, Achilles tendonitis, hip disorders, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing right shoulder disorder was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, arthritis of the shoulders and left knee, and stasis dermatitis as secondary to his service-connected furunculosis with scars.

The veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as he did not meet the criteria for loss or use of both hands and feet, despite having multiple service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the April 2005 rating action. The Board found that his back and neck disorders are not service-connected.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's residuals of a left shoulder dislocation, finding that his recurrent dislocations meet the criteria under Diagnostic Code 5202.

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder scar is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability does not warrant a higher initial rating, and his combined evaluation is insufficient to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder arthritis, hypertension, or headaches. The evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.,While the veteran claims he experienced symptoms during service and continues to experience them today, there is no medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The current evaluations assigned for his wrist, knee, and shoulder disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right shoulder disorder, lumbar strain with disc disease and arthritis, and left femoral nerve stretch injury. The claim for rhinitis with sinusitis was not addressed as it had already been granted a noncompensable rating.