Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but his disability is not of such severity as to render him unemployable.

The Board finds that the veteran's surgery of the right foot in 2002 was not related to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the feet with hallux valgus, and thus does not meet the criteria for a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee injury did not increase in severity during service and is not attributable to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the TDIU rating was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not warrant a higher schedular evaluation prior to December 29, 1993.

The veteran is seeking service connection for osteoarthritis of both knees, which he claims was caused by parachute jumps during his military service. The VA has requested the veteran's service medical records but they were destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if there is a link between the veteran's current osteoarthritis and his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete service medical records and for an appropriate examination regarding lumbar fracture, L1-3, and degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied increased evaluations for chronic subluxation of the right knee and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues except the claim of entitlement to an increased rating for seborrheic keratosis of the face, arm, hands, and right ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for her bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking her current hip disorders to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as her claim for an increased evaluation for hiatal hernia with splenic flexure syndrome. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The Board has found that he was injured in service and finds him credible regarding his injury, but further examination is needed to determine if this injury caused his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disorder, including degenerative arthritis, is causally or etiologically related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for paralysis of the right ulnar nerve. The veteran's arthritis was found to not meet criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedules.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee condition and status post hydrocele surgery, finding that he is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing at his local RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral knee disability, and gastrointestinal disorder (stomach cramps). The decision found no evidence of a current disability related to active or reserve service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, including for a VA examination regarding the etiology of the veteran's right shoulder disorder and for an additional VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right hand, third and fourth digits is related to an in-service injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, consisting of depression and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, do not render him individually unemployable.