Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of a causal link between the veteran's current low back conditions and his service, including two in-service injuries. The veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied a compensable rating for maxillary sinusitis and found no evidence of service connection for the left hip or ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of left knee injury with degenerative arthritis have not met the criteria for a higher initial disability rating, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine with residuals of a compression fracture. The issue of service connection for status post-cervical discectomy was not addressed due to its nature as a non-service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's right hip disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a back disability or bilateral leg disability secondary to his service-connected right hip disability.,VA has evaluated the veteran's right hip replacement as 30 percent disabling, and no higher rating is warranted based on current evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, chronic back strain, hip arthralgia, ankle fractures, hallux valgus, and a calcaneal spur, all secondary to her right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a left elbow disability as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The effective date of this grant is not addressed in the decision.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right wrist disorder was denied, and the claim for TDIU was also denied. The RO confirmed the current evaluation of 40 percent for the right wrist disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to missing treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee with osteoarthritis, as there was no basis in law for such a claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting left and right knee osteoarthrosis were aggravated by service from February 2003 to August 2004, and thus granted service connection for these conditions.

The RO granted service connection for osteoarthritis of both knees in October 1973 and assigned a 20 percent disability rating. The appellant requested an increased rating, which was granted with separate ratings for varus malalignment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is presumed to have been incurred in service, while his right knee meniscal tear is not considered service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected knee disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of medical evidence, including a VA orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and its impact on his ability to work.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran seeks service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips, which he claims is related to his active service. The Board has ordered remand due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for arthritis with limitation of flexion and denied an increased rating for recurrent subluxation and lateral instability.