Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left subtalar joint degenerative arthritis, status post fusion and status post left calcaneal fracture.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of postoperative Osgood-Schlatter Disease of the left knee, effective from July 7, 1995. The temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following surgery is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim is well grounded and remands the case for further development to determine if his right foot condition is related to his service-connected knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was not addressed, while the claims for increased ratings were both denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his osteoarthritis and the stress related to them, substantially contributed to his cause of death from myocardial infarction. The Board finds that service connection for the cause of death is warranted.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence not considered by the RO.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left femur disorder and found that a separate 10 percent rating was warranted for arthritis of the left femur. The initial 10 percent evaluation assigned for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is also denied.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with wedging of C5, effective from March 1998. The veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 8045.

The veteran's anxiety neurosis is rated at 50 percent, his bronchitis remains at 0 percent, and his sinusitis is rated at 10 percent from October 1994 to October 1996. The veteran's total rating based on individual unemployability claim was denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, postoperative repair of the meniscus and ligament of the right knee, and advanced degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The veteran's claims were not granted as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected disc derangement, L4-L5, with osteoarthritis was denied by the RO.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for urticaria and denied his increased rating claim for PTSD. The issues of service connection for residuals of cold injury to the lower extremities, feet and lower back, as well as a separate disability evaluation for headaches are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5290.

The Board found that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the left great toe warranted a 10 percent rating, and service connection was granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected left great toe disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including degenerative osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, is not well grounded due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during active service or within any applicable presumptive period.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis of the spine, secondary to a shell fragment wound injury. The effective date is not specified as it was granted on appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection of his right and left hip disorders as secondary to his service-connected back disability are not well grounded.,The veteran's temporary total convalescence evaluation following hospitalization at a VA facility in September 1997 is not warranted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, with superior displacement of the distal clavicle; degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, with limitation of motion; and degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for a compensable evaluation for degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracic spine was also denied.,The Board found that the appellant's service-connected right shoulder disability is primarily manifested by recurrent complaints of pain, without evidence of limitation of motion of the arm or limitation of motion of the arm to 25 degrees from the side. The cervical spine disability does not show more than slight limitation of motion. The lumbar spine disability shows no more than slight impairment with no evidence of muscle spasm on extreme forward bending, loss of lateral spine motion, unilateral, in standing position. The thoracic spine disability is manifested by complaints of pain in the thoracic region.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected sciatic nerve injury and partial foot drop, as well as post traumatic degenerative arthritis of the left hip. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left lower extremity is also granted. Service connection for secondary disabilities (chronic muscular strain and right hip) is granted.