Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and an increased rating for residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right shoulder involving Muscle Group III.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities do not warrant an increased evaluation as they are currently manifested by slight to moderate impairment, without evidence of instability or recurrent subluxation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing and financial assistance in acquiring special home adaptations due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus but granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability and right leg gunshot wound residuals. The RO will determine if separate ratings should be assigned for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left little finger osteoarthritis and scar residuals do not warrant a compensable or increased rating, respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral and cervical spine, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether this condition had its onset during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for his cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to August 11, 2000 and on or after August 11, 2000.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's right knee disorder, including osteoarthritis, was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has ordered the case remanded due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinions. The veteran's lower back disability is being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current migraine headache disorder or cervical spine disorder that is service-connected. The veteran's claimed conditions are denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected left hip disability, which includes a femoral neck fracture and degenerative arthritis, does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted a 20 percent disability rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent under the old criteria, but not under the new criteria.

The veteran's disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and hypertension, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes as they are not sufficiently disabling to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his injury during active duty in February 1980 was related to his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for obsessive-compulsive disorder and denied service connection for post traumatic stress disorder and a low back disability. The veteran's current psychiatric condition is presumed to have been incurred during military service, while his low back disability is not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, elbow, and hand disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sacroiliitis and multiple sclerosis with decreased sensation and ataxia in both upper extremities, do not meet the eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her blindness and anatomical loss of use of one or more extremities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.