Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2002

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip degenerative arthritis and assigned a 10 percent evaluation to each hip. The veteran's left hip is now rated at 20 percent, while the right hip remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and increased evaluations for right and left leg pain, finding that the veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for post-operative residuals of a tear of the meniscus cartilage of the right knee, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran. The claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee with limitation of motion remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right knee disability. The current evaluations remain at 20%.

The Board found no evidence of spinal meningitis during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as a right knee disorder. The Board also noted that there was insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by post medial meniscectomy with osteoarthritis and chondromalacia of the patella, is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5259. The maximum rating available for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as torn lateral meniscus, a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and degenerative arthritis, was incurred in service. The claim is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's back condition was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current manifestations of these conditions do not warrant higher evaluations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his POW experiences.

The Board found that arthritis of the right hip was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred during service. The veteran's right hip condition is not related to his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a right calcaneal fracture warrant a 30 percent evaluation, effective from the date of claim for increase.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from performing substantially gainful employment.

The VA has determined that the veteran's asthma and lumbar spine disability do not warrant higher initial ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee and instability of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent or a separate compensable rating.

The Board has granted a regulatory total 100 percent evaluation for one year following the implantation of prosthesis on March 24, 2000 for right knee replacement due to service-connected post-traumatic hypertrophic and degenerative arthritis.

The Board found that the veteran's left hip disorder is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for osteoarthritis of both knees are denied as there is no evidence showing that the disabilities meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's right hand condition was not caused by, and is not made worse by, his service-connected left-hand disability. Therefore, he was not entitled to service connection for a right hand disorder on a direct basis.