Shoulder Board decisions

The veteran's disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and COPD, are rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The RO found that his alcohol abuse was due to willful misconduct and thus not compensable.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for right shoulder impairment is granted. Service connection for low back and left shoulder disorders is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and respiratory disorder are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to an increased evaluation under any applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of a gunshot wound of the left shoulder area are not well-grounded, as there is no verified stressor to support the diagnosis of PTSD and no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination of the right shoulder and clarification regarding the veteran's desire for another hearing on his low back claim.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his right shoulder fracture and axillary nerve damage were caused by VA treatment, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the current evaluations for the veteran's service-connected shoulder disabilities do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for the right shoulder and 20 percent for the left shoulder.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder tenosynovitis and left knee degenerative arthritis, effective from September 1, 1992.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder tendonitis and residuals of translocation of the left ulnar nerve warrant initial ratings of 30 percent each, effective December 8, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for a disability affecting his neck, shoulders, upper arms and hands is well-grounded. The evidence supports a finding that the veteran's current condition may have had its onset during his period of military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder condition and a left knee condition as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left ankle sprain. The VA examiner found no relationship between these conditions and the service-connected disability.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities, finding no well-grounded evidence to support these claims. The claim for reopening a previously denied right ankle disability is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis of the right shoulder, residuals of amebiasis, and residuals of cholecystectomy as there was no evidence to support an increase in disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 20 percent rating for residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right shoulder, arm, and chest. The veteran's hearing loss was not related to his military service, but his current disabilities are considered well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, resulting in a denial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of malaria, left shoulder injury, and left eye injury are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of inservice incurrence or a link between current disabilities and service.

The Board found no medical evidence to support the claim for service connection for hearing loss, and denied it. The case was remanded for a VA examination of the right shoulder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, shoulder disorder, and hematuria or bloody stools. The claim of service connection for PTSD is granted with a 50% evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastric ulcer disease and chronic organic disability of the hands, fingers, elbows, and shoulders (other than left ulnar styloid epiphysis) as not well grounded. The Board found that there was no current confirmed diagnosis of these conditions.