Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2004

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or treatment for a low back disorder, and the veteran's lay statements alone are insufficient to establish service connection. The earliest record of arthritis is decades after his active service, and there is no competent evidence showing current back pathology is related to any in-service occurrence or event.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any residuals of a right knee injury or cold injury of the right great toe that are service-connected.

The VA has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, left ankle, and low back disabilities. The RO found that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate based on the symptoms described.

The Board has granted service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to the veteran's right thumb and right hand conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for asthma and degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his service. The claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was also denied as the appellant did not have qualifying service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an examination to determine if the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right knee is etiologically connected to her in-service injury.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the spine, shoulders, hands, knees, wrists, hips, and right foot was found to be directly related to his service. The muscle pain and joint pain noted in his April 1991 examination are considered as part of this condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee, finding that a 60 percent rating was appropriate based on the current functional impairment. The left knee condition did not warrant a separate rating.

The Board denied an increased rating for instability of the left knee, finding that the veteran's condition warranted a 10 percent disability rating.

The veteran's internal derangement of the left knee was rated at 20 percent from April 23, 1997, to June 30, 2003.,Osteoarthritis with limitation of motion of the left knee (status post surgery) was rated at 100 percent from August 4, 2000, to September 30, 2000; 20 percent from October 1, 2000, to June 5, 2001; and 30 percent since August 1, 2002.,Degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 was rated at 40 percent from September 11, 1998, to February 7, 2001; 60 percent from February 8, 2001, to January 31, 2002; and 40 percent since April 1, 2002.,Right L-5 radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity was rated at 20 percent from September 23, 2002.,Service connection for trochanteric bursitis of the right hip (claimed as secondary to service-connected left knee disability) was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current conditions are as likely as not related to his service, specifically cold injuries sustained during active duty in Antarctica. The decision grants service connection for residuals of frostbite.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and chronic low back pain, is not proximately due to or a consequence of his service-connected left leg disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, which is now diagnosed as degenerative joint and disc disease of the dorso-lumbar spine. The Board finds that the veteran incurred this disability during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the first digit, right hand as secondary to his service-connected right hand scar and an increased evaluation for a shell fragment wound scar. The decision found that the veteran's osteoarthritis was unrelated to his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting right knee condition was aggravated by service, allowing for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis, actinic keratosis, ulcers, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and prostate cancer, all claimed to be due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The appeal was dismissed as there is no indication of such exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's spinal disability, characterized as osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, is not related to his service. The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was also not related to his service.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is now rated at 30 percent, reflecting marked limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, as his range of motion is not limited to 25 degrees from the side.