Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2003

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis of the right hip and left hip have been granted, with the right hip receiving a 30 percent rating and the left hip receiving a 40 percent rating.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right and left hands is rated at a 10 percent evaluation since the initial grant of service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, skin rash, headaches, muscle and joint pain, sleep disturbance, memory loss, PTSD, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal problems.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected gout with seronegative polyarthritis and whether he is entitled to a higher disability evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees and shoulders, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The claim for increased rating for psoriasis was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral knee injuries.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, characterized by marked limitation of motion and severe degenerative arthritis, warrants a 20% rating.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis and disc disease at C6-7, cancer, tuberculosis, a neck disorder (cervical sprain/strain), paralysis and neurological problems, bilateral ankle pain, swollen and painful joints, dizziness, throat trouble, a nervous disorder, a rectal disorder, inability to perform certain motions, lacerations to the head, face, and neck, and numbness in the upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, osteoarthritis of the hips, and osteoarthritis of the knees as these conditions were not shown to be related to active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for migratory polyarthritis and arthralgia as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness, service connection for hemorrhagic cystitis as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness, and service connection for tinnitus.

The veteran's right shoulder disorder was granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from August 1, 2000.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine was granted with an effective date of June 10, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, including his degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, is due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a fractured left clavicle.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee warrants a rating of 20 percent, which is higher than the initial 10 percent assigned by the RO. The veteran's symptoms include limitation of motion, increased pain, swelling, and instability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, essential hypertension, degenerative arthritis, and a left inguinal hernia. The claim of reopening the hearing loss was granted, but service connection is not warranted.

The veteran's residuals of gunshot wound to the left hip are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected left shoulder condition is rated at 50 percent disabling and does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his disability alone.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left ankle with shortening of the leg, which is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is related to his inservice injury, and thus grants service connection for post-traumatic degenerative arthritis with some deformity and limitation of motion of the left knee.