Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder impingement syndrome and dry eye syndrome. The claim for service connection for a prostate disorder is not well-grounded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not severe enough to qualify for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and residuals of left eye contusion as not well grounded. The claim for post-traumatic subacromial bursitis of the shoulders is granted based on in-service onset, while the claim for severe allergic reaction to fire ant/bee stings is also granted due to in-service onset.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection, a new and material evidence claim, and increased disability ratings. The decision also noted that the veteran had not appealed the March 1987 rating decision denying her left knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher ratings or service connection based on exposure to asbestos or other hazards.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left knee scar, heart disorder (including hypertension), left shoulder disorder, tinnitus, bursitis, and amebiasis. The claims are not well-grounded as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support these claims.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as it was not factually ascertainable within the year prior to September 4, 1997 that he was entitled to TDIU benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the hands is not well grounded.,The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left shoulder and elbow injuries are well grounded.

The Board denied service connection for disorders of both shoulders and arms on a direct basis, as well as secondary to the service-connected residual scar from a shrapnel wound in the right scapula. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder was also denied as secondary to the same scar.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no competent evidence linking it to his active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for increased evaluations of left shoulder dislocation, hypertension, and chronic bronchitis with COPD are also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis, and has found that his current right shoulder disorder is not related to his military service. The veteran's hepatitis remains noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a right shoulder disability, and a left knee disability are not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these disabilities and an injury or disease in service.

The Board has granted a higher initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's residuals of left shoulder dislocations, effective from the date service connection was established.

The Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not support an increase in the original evaluations assigned for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypothyroidism, low back, migraine headache, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and left wrist disabilities. The RO had initially assigned zero percent (noncompensable) evaluations, which were later changed to 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids and left wrist sprain have been granted compensable evaluations. Service connection for neck strain has also been established, but the other issues remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not well-grounded and denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's lipomas in the chest, abdomen, back, right arm, and left arm have been granted a 10% rating each. The veteran also received a 20% rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left buttock (Muscle Group XVII) and a 20% rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the low back (Muscle Group XX). No compensable rating was granted for multiple laparotomies of the abdomen. The veteran's right shoulder arthritis has been granted a 10% rating.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability and a left shoulder disability, both claimed as secondary to his amputated left forearm, are well-grounded. The RO denied these claims in April 1996, but the veteran timely submitted a Substantive Appeal by May 2, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and the appellant's duty to submit any relevant evidence. The claim will be returned for further action.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and entitlement to an increased rating for his right shoulder injury. The claim of TDIU is addressed in the remand section.