Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, which he claimed as aching joints, and for a compensable disability rating for residuals of rheumatic fever. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his in-service rheumatic fever.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for post/operative residuals of a right medial meniscectomy is reopened, but denied an increased rating for his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left foot disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and his degenerative arthritis of the first metacarpophalangeal joint may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for polyarthritis due to new and material evidence, and finds that her current diagnosis of polyarthritis is related to her active duty service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities, and readjudicating the claims based on all relevant evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, hypertension, sickle cell disease, and a disorder of the lymph nodes were denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim for a disorder of the lymph nodes was also denied.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for scarring on the left foot in addition to the current 30 percent rating for the residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left foot with amputation of the third and fourth toes, acquired deformity, neuropathy, retained metallic fragments, and degenerative arthritis. The combined evaluation does not exceed the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for degenerative arthritis and instability of the right knee, effective from August 2003.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess her back, right knee, and left ankle conditions.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee with osteoarthritis and found no basis to grant a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to have been present in service or for many years thereafter, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected back, right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to incomplete examinations and new regulations.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The case was remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly pension based on aid and attendance/housebound status. The claim for service connection was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim for special monthly pension was denied as the veteran did not meet the criteria for either aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis of the knees and lumbosacral spine as secondary to the knees. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for specially adaptive housing, special home adaptation, and aid and attendance benefits due to conflicting opinions and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including low back pain with degenerative arthritis, arthritis of the right knee, medial collateral ligament strain of the left knee, residuals of resection of the left clavicle, residuals of a left lung resection with history of sarcoidosis, duodenal ulcer, and hemorrhoids.

The Board denied secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, finding that it is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The issue of an increased rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right posterior chest was also addressed.

The veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the evidence does not show that a service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to his death.