Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2006

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 26, 2003. His degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right knee are both rated at 10 percent. The veteran's allergic rhinitis does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation. His surgical scar of the left 7th rib is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. His eczema is also rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the veteran's symptoms were not severe enough to warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, gastrointestinal disorder, joint pain (osteoarthritis), and mood swings. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbodorsosacral spine is being remanded due to incomplete examination records and the need for additional medical evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis and accounting for functional loss.

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine secondary to trauma has been dismissed as he expressed satisfaction with the assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee in an October 12, 2005 decision. The motion argues that this decision is incorrect due to a failure to apply 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b).

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a left ankle disorder in service or within any applicable presumptive period, and the evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between any currently diagnosed left ankle disorder and the appellant's period of active service from August 1974 to May 1992. Therefore, service connection for a left ankle disorder is denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board finds that the veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and pes bursitis, is more likely due to his own service-connected conditions rather than the July 1992 VA surgery. As such, he does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent, does not warrant a higher rating due to slight limitation of motion and instability.

The veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for various service-connected disabilities and the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability. The case must be remanded to allow for proper VCAA notice, issuance of a Statement of the Case, and readjudication.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and left ear hearing loss are not service connected as secondary to his poliomyelitis.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis, basal cell carcinoma, and a prostate disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or treatment related to these conditions during or after military service.,Service connection is not granted as the veteran did not have chronic peripheral neuropathy within one year post-service, and there is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and lumbosacral spine, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected disability and denied the claim for DIC.

The Board has determined that service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and lumbar spine disability is not warranted as the conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a disorder characterized by aching joints, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the hips and knees, which was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current disability levels and lack of ankylosis or other exceptional circumstances.