Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of both knees warrants an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent. The effective date is not assigned as these claims are being denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of various joints and a compensable evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected low back strain with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted given his current range of motion and symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for inflammatory polyarthritis and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for low back strain, effective from the date of discharge from active duty (June 1, 2003).

The Board is remanding the case to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for low back disorder, including osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and myasthenia gravis.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability and service connection for TMJ with headaches, claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disorder, was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability with spondylosis and spinal stenosis, left shoulder degenerative osteoarthritis, thoracolumbar disability (chronic strain of the thoracic spine), and left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left knee instability and degenerative arthritis, both rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-operative arthrotomy of the right knee with patellar chondromalacia is denied prior to March 30, 2005.,The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-operative arthrotomy of the right knee with patellar chondromalacia is granted beginning from March 30, 2005.

The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of the veteran's wife, thus denying the claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, neuropathy of the legs, residuals of cold injury to the upper and lower extremities, and degenerative arthritis (joint pain in the right shoulder and legs).

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted, with a rating of 40 percent effective April 18, 2006. The claims for service connection for bladder cancer and squamous cell carcinoma were also granted.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, upper back disorder, osteoarthritis of the joints, skin disorder (presumptive due to herbicide exposure), and peripheral neuropathy (presumptive due to herbicide exposure). The pulmonary disorder was not shown in service or for many years thereafter.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection and increased rating are pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current sinus disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. For his left knee osteoarthritis, the Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases in its August 2005 decision, specifically failing to consider an April 1943 in-service physiotherapy clinical note. The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury is now pending with instructions for further development.

The veteran's subluxation of the right knee and arthritis were rated at 20% each, with a temporary additional convalescence period granted.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis, effective from the date of the February 2002 decision.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the veteran's shrapnel wound, right thigh, Muscle Group XIV and traumatic degenerative arthritis of the left ankle. The veteran is not entitled to higher ratings as his muscle disability does not meet the criteria for a moderately severe injury under VA regulations, and his knee and hip have normal range of motion.