Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeals for higher evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn. The claims for left ankle, right wrist, and allergic rhinitis/sinusitis disabilities are well-grounded.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the hips due to new and material evidence. The claim is pending as it relates to an increased rating for residuals of gunshot wound to the left thigh.

The Board denied the veteran's claims regarding his POW status, reopening of a head fracture claim, and service connection for various injuries. The decision was based on the lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with disc disease warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of receipt of his reopened increased rating claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of both knees, with radiographic evidence of bilateral tibial tubercle fragmentation, is related to injuries sustained during service and grants service connection for these disabilities.

The Board denied both the request for an earlier effective date and the request for a higher rating. The effective date remains August 31, 1995, and the maximum allowable rating is 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple seborrhea keratoses due to herbicide exposure and for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of multiple joints, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a left knee disability and whether there was clear and unmistakable error in rating decisions prior to October 1992. The issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not currently in appellate status.

The veteran's disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right elbow and cervical spine, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service connected pension purposes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of the issue of restoration of a 30 percent rating and an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the left hip to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition has been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and her Substantive Appeal. The veteran was granted a 70% disability rating for major depression, but not before November 21, 1996.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has denied all service connection claims as not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his physical limitations, but independence in daily living activities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disorder and gunshot wound residuals, contributed substantially to causing the veteran's death from recurrent small cell lung cancer.

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus pre-existed service and was not aggravated during service. The other foot disorders were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder, which is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis and did not grant increased ratings for the right knee disorder or low back disorder.

The veteran's initial claim for PTSD was granted, and he is currently receiving a 50% evaluation. The Board found no evidence linking his bilateral knee and elbow disorders or coronary artery disease to service. His PTSD has been rated based on the severity of symptoms such as depression, impaired memory, difficulty in concentration, and social relationships.