Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2005

The veteran's right knee disability is currently manifested by painful range of motion, moderate medial instability, arthritis and a mild antalgic limp. The Board has granted service connection for the right knee disability and assigned an initial 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for essential hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the hands and cervical spine, finding that there was no causal link to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted a separate compensable rating for arthritis of the right knee, effective January 8, 2001. The veteran's combined disability evaluation for his right knee instability and arthritis is now 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for further development due to procedural deficiencies and need for additional medical opinions.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his left knee DJD is also rated at 10 percent. The RO granted service connection for both conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities were granted, with a 20 percent evaluation assigned for each knee. The claim for service connection for actinic keratoses (claimed as skin cancer) was also granted and reopened on the basis of new evidence.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied.,He was awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 19, 1999.

The veteran was granted a separate compensable rating for arthritis with painful or limited motion of the right knee effective November 12, 1991. The RO held that he was entitled to a separate compensable rating based on X-ray findings and painful motion under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59. He was also granted an increased rating for arthritis with painful or limited motion of the right knee effective April 16, 1996.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (claimed as neck pain). The case is remanded to obtain Social Security Administration records and comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are rated at less than 60% combined, and there is no evidence that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, back, and hip disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service, or related to his service-connected right femur fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the feet and increased evaluations for bilateral pes planus and lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis. The conditions are not presumed due to exposure, and there is no indication that they were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the appellant's deceased husband's claims for service connection for heart disease and osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions were not incurred during or within one year after his military service. The appellant is also denied entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to her deceased husband lacking requisite service with the United States Armed Forces.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the subtalar joint of the right foot warrants a 20 percent rating, effective from May 1, 2001.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints is being remanded due to the need for further development and medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disabilities and increased ratings for the veteran's left and right knee disabilities. The hip disabilities are deemed to be directly related to playing football during service, while the knee disabilities are rated based on their current manifestations of degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder and arm disorder, to include degenerative arthritis, is not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.