Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a right hip disorder, finding that there is no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee Pellegrini-Stieda disease.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on their current symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disorders, including a meniscal tear and mild patellar osteoarthritis, are not etiologically related to service or a service-connected left knee disability. The record does not support a presumption of arthritis due to in-service exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee, cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, effective from September 8, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cluster headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, and his TDIU claim is denied as he does not have unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent effective from June 1, 1996.

The Board denied service connection for medial meniscectomy of the right knee and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

The veteran's combined disability rating for his left knee conditions (residuals of a left knee injury and degenerative arthritis) is currently at 30 percent. He seeks an increased rating, but the current ratings are considered appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The case is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding the veteran's ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and remanded it for further development.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 10 percent for the service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg with involvement of Muscle Group XI.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition and concluding that any current cervical spine disorder is not related to service.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spines, currently rated at 40 percent disabling, is granted with a specific rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees, ankles, and hands was denied. His claim for an increased rating for residuals of undulant fever with arthritis in the knees, ankles, and left wrist was also denied.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased rating for chondromalacia of the left knee and the initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis and medial joint space narrowing of the right knee. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee strain and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands and right knee is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 24, 2001.