Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis with left total knee arthroplasty is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical evidence and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected spinal and conversion disorders did not cause or contribute to his death from acute myocardial infarction due to arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that his current low back symptoms are attributable to his service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hip replacements were aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disorder, warranting a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits in the amount of $827.00, finding that the debt was validly created due to the appellant's failure to notify VA of his divorce from his first wife.

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, characterized by degenerative arthritis and limited abduction motion, does not meet the criteria for an evaluation greater than 30 percent.

The Board finds that the appellant's lumbar spine injury did not worsen during his ACDUTRA service in 1994, and therefore does not meet the criteria for aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of $19,872.07 was properly created due to fraud committed by the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis and peptic ulcer, finding no evidence of these conditions during or after service. The veteran was also denied eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his status as a guerrilla soldier.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a left foot disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, post-operative residuals of a medial and lateral meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis, warrants a 30 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability was granted, with the effective date set at October 22, 1996.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected myositis of the erector spinae due to insufficient medical evidence and the veteran's failure to comply with VA's efforts to have him reexamined.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral bunions, which were status post left bunionectomy, was denied. However, he is now entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for the right foot bunion deformity.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective August 26, 1996. The RO increased the evaluations to 10 percent each knee in June 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a burn injury to the right hand do not warrant a compensable evaluation, as they do not meet the criteria for any specific rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.