Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2000

The veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is granted. The other issues are pending and will be addressed in a future remand.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability and denied increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and chondromalacia of the right knee.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has denied an increased evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized by moderate limitation of motion, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's left knee disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling from November 9, 1992 to September 22, 1998.,The veteran's right knee disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling from November 9, 1992 to September 28, 1998. Beginning on September 29, 1998, the disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee strain with a sebaceous cyst and degenerative arthritis, as well as his left knee degenerative arthritis, are denied. The current ratings of 20% each for both knees remain unchanged.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for low back pain and osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine was denied by the RO. The case is being remanded to schedule a hearing in accordance with the appellant's request.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for headaches and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was denied. The veteran is currently employed full-time, and there is no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is related to an injury sustained during his service, specifically during an appendectomy in January 1952. The case is therefore granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities, but denied his claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's triggering of the middle (third) finger of each hand, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation to 40 percent for the veteran's postoperative residuals of a torn medial meniscus and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, effective from the date of the November 1992 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the dorsal spine, dermatitis with a history of yaws, right wrist osteoarthritis, and left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis. The highest schedular rating available under the applicable criteria was assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle disability, a prior effective date for PTSD, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and osteoarthritis of the subtalar joints are currently rated at 50% and 10%, respectively. The Board denied an increased rating for his foot disability, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes. For TDIU, the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected retro patellar pain syndrome of both knees, with a rating of 10% each.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain are not related to his service-connected conditions, leading to a denial of both claims for service connection and increased rating.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for intermittent migratory polyarthritis effective from February 15, 1996. The condition is characterized by intermittent attacks of arthritic joint pain and swelling with associated limited range of motion.