Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 22, 1997 for an award of special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to lack of a valid claim before that date.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the veteran's impotence, claimed as secondary to service-connected injuries, should be granted. Service connection for this condition is now granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of death, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and an effective date earlier than June 1, 1994, for an award of a total rating based on unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected left shoulder and knee disabilities are evaluated at 20 percent each, effective March 29, 1991. The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 30 percent for the left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left hip and left knee, with osteoporosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, sinusitis with nasal septoplasty, and bilateral heel spurs. The disabilities are rated as 20 percent disabling under a direct service connection theory.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, hiatal hernia and depression were not well grounded. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or any other form of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and PTSD, as well as his claim for dental treatment. The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder disability, to include arthritis, is not well-grounded and denied it.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of both hips, lumbosacral strain with disc disease and arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss are all service-connected. The evaluation for lumbosacral strain is granted at 20 percent, while the hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA specialist examination of both knees and notification to the veteran regarding the denial of his claim as not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee is denied. The claim for service connection for arthritis of the right wrist is also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at the maximum allowable rating of 60%. Service connection for erectile dysfunction has been granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his 100% schedular rating from November 24, 1997 to January 1, 1999 precluded a TDIU claim.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, did not develop during service or as a result of any incident in service. The claim is denied.