Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and other conditions on a presumptive basis as former POW's. The effective date is May 25, 2007.

The veteran's disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be unable to care for himself and perform tasks incident to daily living, nor does he require the regular aid and attendance of another person or qualify as housebound. Therefore, his claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to ambiguity in his service-connected disabilities and the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The veteran seeks service connection for low back disability, including compression defect L1, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and scoliosis of the lumbar spine. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to adjudicate his claim due to the need for medical evidence regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left foot/ankle disability, characterized by osteoarthritis of the left foot and chronic peroneal tendonitis with no more than slight limitation of motion, warrants a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's cause of death, chondrosarcoma, may be related to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the spine. The VA needs to obtain medical records from SSA and provide a VA medical opinion on whether the veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a total disability rating. The case is being remanded to obtain a more current and thorough examination of the appellant's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure compliance with previous remands and provide the veteran with proper notice under the VCAA.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for sinusitis and hepatitis.

The Board determined that the cause of death, multiple myeloma, was not related to service-connected conditions and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the DIC claim.

The Board has granted service connection for hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of cold injury to the feet.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled hearing. His case will be processed as though the request for a hearing had been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee and hip disabilities, including osteoarthritis, are not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's right knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and her instability of the right knee warrants a separate 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis with degenerative joint disease of the ankles, right knee, right hip, and right hand were denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA medical examination.,The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left hip was also denied due to his failure to appear for a scheduled VA medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right femur fracture with shortening of the right lower extremity and low back strain, finding that the evidence did not support higher schedular ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's left shoulder disability and for a new examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis was not incurred in or related to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits based on his inability to perform daily activities without assistance.