Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing at the RO, and no rating or effective date is assigned as this is an appeal regarding service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left hip injury, psychiatric disability (including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and PTSD), and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain. The evidence did not show any current left hip disability or residuals of a left hip injury.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder. The Board also found that the veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the right arm, upper gastrointestinal disorder, cardiovascular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, irritable colon syndrome, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The decision also addressed his claim for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected internal derangement of the right knee, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected left ankle disorder was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 40% under DC 5270 has already been granted, making any higher schedular or extra-schedular ratings unavailable.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, as well as degenerative arthritis of the left hip, both found to be secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were all granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his chronic back pain is due to an injury sustained during active duty and linked to degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent for a lumbosacral strain, with disc disease and degenerative arthritis, and to a total rating for compensation purposes based upon individual unemployability due to significant changes in the relevant rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability was granted, with a current evaluation of 20 percent. The RO also established service connection for a right knee disability secondary to the left knee disability and denied claims for service connection for a back disability and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and liver disorder both claimed as secondary to the veteran's service-connected seizure disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disability, including arthritis and instability, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent based on current evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's knee disability, characterized by slight limitation of motion and osteoarthritis, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for his degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine as well as mild osteoarthritis of the facets of L4-L5 and L5-S1, with a history of congenitally small spinal canal. The veteran's claim is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sickle cell trait with osteoarthritis, back and lower extremity joint pain as secondary to bilateral pes planus, and a right arm disorder. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was also denied.

The Board denied an evaluation greater than 30 percent for postoperative residuals of a right knee disorder with degenerative arthritis, finding that the veteran's disability did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a foot disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran, but it remains unclear whether this condition is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's right foot disability.