Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and low back disabilities preexisted service, thus rebutting the presumption of soundness. The veteran did not provide clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut this presumption. Therefore, his claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the right hip is service-connected, but her uterine fibrosis and arthritis in other joints are not.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection and an increased rating for his service-connected back disorder, finding that there was no medical evidence to support a plausible relationship between the current degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and the service-connected chronic low back pain.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a heart disorder related to service or a service-connected disability. Service connection for multiple joints affected by joint pain (excluding right knee and left ankle) is granted, but no specific rating is assigned as it pertains to an existing condition. Service connection for traumatic arthritis of the left talonavicular joint is granted with a 10 percent rating from June 1989 through June 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder and for nonservice-connected pension benefits based on permanent and total disability due to a nonservice-connected mental disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's claim was well-grounded and granted service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, attributing it to an in-service injury.

The Board determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis is not well-grounded because there is no evidence of a chronic disability subject to service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims regarding the propriety of his initial 10 percent rating for mechanical low back strain, and his service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his hearing loss, cervical spine condition, left shoulder arthritis, and right wrist disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee may be presumed to have been incurred in active service due to a history of meniscectomy prior to entry into military service.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability with degenerative arthritis, effective from when the claim was filed. Service connection for a lower back disability is denied as not well grounded.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability, and the case is being remanded to obtain additional medical information and consider applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected and his claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability remains denied.

The Board denied both claims: service connection for drop foot with impaired neurological function of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for internal derangement of the left knee and a separate 10 percent evaluation for degenerative arthritis, effective March 26, 1999. The veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent disabling since January 1999.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic acquired disorder of the right knee as secondary to service-connected DJD of the left knee with PO valgus osteotomy and total knee replacement, and for a back disorder also as secondary to this same condition.

The Board has found that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating, but not higher. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder secondary to his right knee disability is remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TRIU) should be restored due to clear and unmistakable error in the July 20, 1989 decision which denied it. The TRIU was granted effective September 1, 1986.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for polyarthritis of multiple joints is not well grounded. The September 1965 rating decision denying service connection for a congenital cyst of the right mandibular area is final, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee and left foot disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current manifestations did not warrant a higher evaluation.