Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and instability of the right knee, finding that no higher rating was warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has ordered the RO to assign separate disability ratings for the veteran's osteoarthritis of the right hand, left hand, and right knee. The case is now remanded for this purpose.

The veteran's request for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder with degenerative arthritis is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO conducted by a Veterans Law Judge sitting in Washington, DC.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions, except for his loss of use of both hands due to Dupuytren's contractures, do not require regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural issues and missing SSA records. The claims will be reconsidered after these matters are addressed.

The Board denied service connection for cancer of the voice box and degenerative arthritis of bilateral ankles and knees, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted a 20% evaluation for the veteran's thoracic spine condition effective from September 27, 2005. The previous rating was increased to 10% in July 2004 and then again to 20% in October 2005.

The veteran's TMJ syndrome has been productive of pain which limits the inter-incisal opening to no more than 30 millimeters with strain, and V3 paresthesia of the seventh cranial nerve. The disability is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to February 17, 1994.,The veteran's TMJ syndrome has been productive of pain which limits the inter-incisal opening to no more than 30 millimeters with strain, and V3 paresthesia of the seventh cranial nerve. The disability is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to February 17, 1994.,The veteran's TMJ syndrome has been productive of pain which limits the inter-incisal opening to no more than 30 millimeters with strain, and V3 paresthesia of the seventh cranial nerve. The disability is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to February 17, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not show that the service-connected disability was so exceptional or unusual as to require referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 and degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 60 percent is warranted based on severe limitation of motion, muscle spasm, and absent ankle jerk.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and right great toe disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on their current symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, a cardiac disorder (claimed as atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure), osteoarthritis, and iron deficiency anemia. The reasons given were lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinion evidence regarding rheumatoid arthritis and its residuals, as well as incomplete clinical records. The veteran will be provided with appropriate notice regarding effective dates of awards and a VA examination by a rheumatologist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his bilateral wrist and little finger disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his right ankle disability, finding that he already had the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees due to new evidence submitted since the final May 1963 rating decision. The claim is presumed to have existed at the time of entry into service, but no aggravation during service could be established.

The Board found that the veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his service and denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee is service-connected, and his right knee disorder and bilateral foot pain are not service-connected.