Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues, including obtaining SSA records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected osteoarthritis with chondromalacia of both knees and instability of the left and right knees, as there was no additional functional loss due to pain or weakness that would warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and post-operative total right hip replacement are all rated as they currently stand. The appeals for increased ratings have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for a new VA examination and VCAA notice.

The veteran's left knee disability is not shown to be related to his service or service-connected sarcoidosis.,Service connection for sarcoidosis has been granted and the current disability picture more nearly approximates that of pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high dose (therapeutic) corticosteroids for control, warranting a 60 percent evaluation.,The veteran's right index finger deformity is shown to be productive of functional loss that more nearly approximates that of a gap of one inch between the tip of the digit and the palm, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to an additional claim for service connection of a right knee disability, which is not related to the left knee disability. The veteran's left knee disability remains rated at 30 percent based on degenerative arthritis and slight limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and denied his claim for service connection for thoracic spine arthritis. The veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his left knee disability, and there is no evidence of arthritis of the thoracic spine due to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine did not cause or aggravate his bilateral knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for pes planus with hallux valgus, callosities, and degenerative arthritis was not addressed as it is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's increased disability evaluations for osteoarthritis of the left knee and laxity of the left knee, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed prostate disorder, kidney/renal disease, multiple cysts on the kidneys, peripheral neuropathy, bipolar disorder, osteoarthritis, hypertension, heart disease, and gout, all of which were alleged to be related to herbicide exposure during his reserve service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board found that the effective date for reinstating a 10 percent disability evaluation for the service-connected osteomalacia of the right knee with Osgood Schlatter and degenerative osteoarthritis is January 1, 2005. The veteran's benefits were suspended due to his whereabouts being unknown, but resumed on that date.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the spine at L4 is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, meeting the criteria for a higher rating under both former and current VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, diabetes mellitus, Type II as secondary to PTSD and stomach disorders, and osteoarthritis of the right hip, status post total arthroplasty due to cold injury. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for symptomatic dislocation of the semilunar cartilage in the right knee, and a compensable rating (10 percent) for osteoarthritis of the right knee. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their direct effects rather than any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board found that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed due to his service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, but finds that there is no evidence to support a finding that his current disability had its onset in active service or within one year of separation. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's current back disorder was an aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the hips with bilateral greater trochanter bursitis is related to his service-connected right knee disability and has been granted service connection for this condition.