Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence without a waiver by the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current knee condition, including osteoarthritis, is not related to his service injury in 1952 and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to incomplete development of records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, which is the maximum rating available under the old regulations. The new regulations do not change this determination.

The veteran's right femur disability was aggravated during service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. His degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and osteoarthritis of the knees were also incurred in active service.

The RO has granted increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, each rated at 10 percent.,However, no increase was granted for arthritis of the wrists or lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding that none of the criteria for a higher rating were met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the appellant's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine are at least as likely as not related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints to include the spine, shoulders, hips, ankles, and wrists, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected trapezitis of the left side of the back. The Board found that the veteran's arthritis was not present during service or for many years later and is not causally related to an incident of service or to his service-connected trapezitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, currently rated at 20 percent. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's left knee conditions, including a torn medial meniscus with possible anterior cruciate ligament tear and Osgood-Schlatter disease. The rating is now at 50% for limitation of extension and flexion from June 30, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty and there was no evidence of a diagnosis within one year after service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied all claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected low back strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, as well as his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder and acid reflux were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the cause of death, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis, was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have osteoarthritis of the knees or degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine that is related to service-connected disabilities. Therefore, his claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis is a result of his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and grants service connection for this condition.