Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's current hip disability, including osteoarthritis, did not begin during or is causally linked to his service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the postoperative residuals of bilateral total knee replacements as secondary to the service-connected pes planus. The issue regarding degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with osteoarthritis is also granted, and an increased rating for pes planus remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of such condition during or immediately after service and concluding that any current disability is not related to military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected back disability, but granted a 60 percent evaluation effective March 4, 1999 (later revised as March 2, 1998). The case is now before the RO to determine appropriate effective dates.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate development of his claim for an increased disability evaluation for gout with seronegative polyarthritis. The VA examination report did not comply with the August 2000 Board remand order and was therefore inadequate for rating purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is related to an injury sustained during active service, granting his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities have been granted, with a separate 10 percent rating assigned for each knee.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate development of his claim for an increased disability evaluation for gout with seronegative polyarthritis. The VA needs to ensure compliance with the August 2000 remand order, consider whether functional loss due to pain should be considered, and differentiate between active processes and chronic residuals in evaluating his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is as likely as not related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left knee disability, which includes a status post left knee injury and osteoarthritis, is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability and neurological residuals of a fracture of the right radius, finding that the current evaluations were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability to be reopened. The VA examiner found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of L5-S1 is related to his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical and thoracic spine disorders arose during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's current bilateral knee condition, including his history of Reiter's syndrome and osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and did not address the claims regarding bilateral ankle and knee disorders due to lack of evidence related to these issues.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities are rated at 30 percent each, resulting in a combined rating of 80 percent. The appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lower back and prostate cancer with radical prostectomy, have resulted in permanent loss of use of both legs. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing.