Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of both hips, status post bilateral arthroplasty began in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination and issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his active duty service and denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right hip disorder is linked to his in-service automobile accident, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's widow seeks service connection for various conditions, including his cause of death and diabetes mellitus, colon cancer, hypertension, and metastatic cancer. The appeal is being remanded to determine if the veteran served in Vietnam or had other qualifying service that would allow for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service medical records and the need for proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the left elbow is currently rated at 20 percent, and a separate 20 percent rating for limitation of flexion has been granted.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for an increased rating and reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for left total hip arthroplasty, due to degenerative arthritis of the left hip is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral degenerative arthritis is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, provide proper VCAA notice, and schedule the veteran for a VA examination to assess his right knee and back conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee associated with postoperative residuals of left knee patellectomy is being remanded due to potential pyramiding under different diagnostic codes.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Lakeland Regional Medical Center on March 3, 2000 were denied as he did not meet the criteria for payment under VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his injury to thoracic muscles with resection of the fourth rib was denied. The Board found that a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes is not warranted, as he currently receives the maximum allowable rating (20%). The issue of entitlement to compensation for osteoarthritits of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joint (chest and ribs), claimed as secondary to his service-connected injury to the thoracic muscles with resection of 4th rib under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is addressed in this REMAND portion.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, effective from January 14, 2006.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disability does not preclude substantially gainful employment, and therefore denied his claim for TDIU.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at the maximum allowable under the current rating criteria, and no higher. The appeal for an increased rating or extraschedular consideration has been denied.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee arthritis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee with a torn posterior medial meniscus, both secondary to bilateral pes planus. The effective date for these grants is November 29, 2003.