Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis, hallux valgus of the left and right feet, hypertension, and pseudofolliculitis barbae with acne vulgaris. The conditions were found to not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's psychiatric disorder, arthritis of the feet, shoulders, and back disability to service. The claim for hepatitis C was also denied as there is no competent evidence showing a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation from 10 percent to 20 percent for the service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee, effective October 2003.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee and instability of the left knee, as the evidence did not show more than noncompensable levels of disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a single 40 percent evaluation, effective September 23, 2002.

The VA Board found that the veteran's osteoarthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to a lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year after service. The medical records did not show any arthritis symptoms or treatment during his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis did not warrant a compensable rating from September 22, 1998 through March 7, 1999. From March 8, 1999 onwards, the disability warranted a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected, and his left ankle disability does not warrant a higher initial rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and continued the current ratings for otitis media (0 percent) and left knee disability (30 percent). The claim for increased rating of left knee disability was also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of his left ankle disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection for hepatitis C was not established, while the knee and eye disabilities received appropriate evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion with pain and productive functional loss, warrants a 10 percent rating from May 29, 2001.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claim of osteoarthritis being incurred in active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for varicose veins of the left leg and osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of the veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the right leg.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right buttock shell fragment wound residuals.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection were denied. The RO found that the right knee disability did not warrant a higher rating, and there was no evidence linking his cervical spine or left hip conditions to his service-connected right knee condition.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant an increased rating based on current evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury due to new and material evidence, but denied it on the merits as there is no causal link between his current left knee disorder and his military service.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, but denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist.