Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the left knee and increased the disability evaluation for neurovascular disturbances of the feet with history of exposure to 10 percent. The veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was received on March 14, 1985. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at this date.

The veteran is seeking special monthly compensation on the basis of needing aid and attendance. The RO has requested a VA medical examination to determine his eligibility for this benefit.

The veteran's appeal was denied on all issues related to service connection for various injuries and disorders. The decision is based on the merits of the claims without invoking any presumption or new evidence.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral shoulder or cervical spine disabilities and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's left shoulder disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 3, 1997 and increased to 20 percent effective April 3, 1997. The VA determined that the condition warranted a higher evaluation of 30 percent as of March 22, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, but denied claims for increased evaluations. The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective November 1, 1989. His left shoulder disability was initially rated at 20 percent from that date until December 1, 1997, when it was upgraded to a 30 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder was also granted, with a 30 percent evaluation effective from February 1, 1993. Other claims were continued at their prior evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back injury, left shoulder injury, and left rib injury. The veteran was also denied a higher rating for his right arm scar and left eye scar.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date of August 23, 1996 for a 40 percent evaluation for right shoulder disability. The evidence did not show an increase in disability within one year prior to the June 1997 claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and PTSD, shell fragment wound scar of the right posterior chest wall, and fractured right tenth rib. The effective date for these grants of service connection was changed to March 5, 1997.

The appellant's total disability picture results in the need for regular and constant use of a wheelchair or other assistive device as a normal mode of locomotion. However, his service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of any extremity, thus he does not qualify for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right shoulder disability is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a member of the Board at the local Regional Office in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of back, left shoulder, and hiatal hernia disabilities as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability claim is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not causally related to service or his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection, and TDIU. The claims for service connection of a liver disorder and a psychiatric disorder were also denied. The claim to reopen the perforation of the left tympanic membrane was not granted.

Service connection was granted for the service-connected idiopathic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure but denied for other conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or undiagnosed illnesses.