Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disorders are likely due to injuries sustained during his military service, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis. The decision also denied the claim for left knee degenerative arthritis as there is no evidence of a current disability that was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and granted it, finding new evidence supports a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

The veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated totally disabling. However, the appellant could not provide evidence that the veteran was entitled to receive a total rating prior to April 16, 1977.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of flexion, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension. The overall medical evidence did not support a higher rating under DC 5261.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his osteochondritis dissecans, status post-arthroplasty, right knee with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation on account of housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's pre-existing hip condition was found to have been aggravated during service, but the evidence is not clear and unmistakable that this aggravation occurred due to natural progression.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and determined that new evidence submitted by the appellant raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, the Board found no causal link between any service-connected disability and the veteran's death.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation by reason of need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board denied all service connection claims for various conditions, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a new examination to address osteoarthritis.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, including Osgood-Schlatter's disease and osteoarthritis, was not causally related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frozen feet and bilateral knee osteoarthritis in March 1959. The RO later granted these claims with a 10% evaluation effective October 21, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including residuals of cold injury, scars to the hands (claimed in part as due to burns), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, fibromyalgia, and strabismus. The combined schedular evaluation was also denied.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized as chronic thoracolumbar strain with osteoarthritis, has resulted in severe loss of range of motion throughout the appeal period. The RO granted a 20 percent rating effective from June 16, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and an increased evaluation for his lumbosacral spine disorder. The claim for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking current hearing loss to military service, while the claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral spine disability was granted based on moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the knees, legs, and hips as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before the RO, and the appellant's increased rating claim for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with limitation of motion is pending.