Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claim for Chapter 31, Independent Living Services because financing a pole barn to house his pigs is not necessary to assist him in achieving independence or becoming feasible for vocational rehabilitation.

The Board found that the veteran's right thumb/hand disability was not shown in service records, and there is no medical evidence showing treatment for a right thumb/hand condition. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right thumb/hand disability is denied.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for residuals of a fracture to the right mandible with removal of teeth, which occurred in March 1994 at the Temple VAMC. The claim is currently remanded due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for postoperative degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and a right hand disorder secondary to this condition.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's right knee disorder, but denied a higher evaluation for his left knee arthritis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right wrist fracture and bilateral hearing loss were granted, with the right wrist rating set at 10 percent effective from the date of filing. The hearing loss claim was not granted as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The VA determined that your service-connected degenerative post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the low back does not warrant a higher initial evaluation than 40 percent.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals of a medial meniscectomy of the right knee was denied. However, his claim for arthritis of the right knee with painful motion was granted and assigned an initial rating of 10 percent effective from March 10, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 60 percent for his cervical spine condition and for entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU determination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee and left hip disabilities, and denied his requests for increased ratings for his right knee disability and residuals of his left hip injury.

The veteran's knee conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, and he is not entitled to a higher rating for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome or arthritis. He does receive separate ratings for limitation of motion in both knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD and for degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the right hand is related to her service and she is therefore entitled to service connection for this condition. The cervical spine disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, also appears to be related to service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's right knee instability and arthritis, finding that his symptoms did not warrant such an increase.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint of his right fifth finger and left olecranon bursitis, but continued to deny his claim for a higher initial rating for pterygium of the right eye, postoperative with dry eye syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, finding that the veteran's knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder in service and no competent medical evidence of a chronic back disability until many years after separation from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with a fracture of the lamina and spondylolisthesis does not warrant an increased disability rating beyond the current 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to October 17, 2000 for service connection of lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity based on alleged clear and unmistakable error in a September 1997 rating decision.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder and hand disability, finding that the range of motion is limited to shoulder level. The veteran's right hand injury does not warrant separate evaluations.