Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, with post-surgical changes, warrants a 10 percent rating. No separate compensable ratings for lateral instability or subluxation are warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which he is seeking service connection. The evidence does not support a finding of any relationship between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for post-operative right club foot with osteoarthritis of the right foot and ankle, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right ankle with non-tender scar, effective July 11, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have osteoarthritis of either knee and denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The shin splints and stress fracture of the right femur with patellofemoral pain syndrome were also denied as there was no evidence of arthritis or other compensable disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left knee prosthesis and back issues, significantly limit his ability to work. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an anxiety disorder and residuals of a neck injury including degenerative cervical spondylosis as secondary to right ankle degenerative arthritis, and also denied his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right ankle degenerative arthritis. The VA examinations indicated that the right ankle disability was manifested by marked limitation of motion with constant pain, swelling, instability, weakness, catching, clicking, and popping.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development of his medical records, including those from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board is remanding the claims for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of an increase in severity during service and insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that the current disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that he is not entitled to a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, lung carcinoma, was not related to his active duty service and did not find sufficient evidence to grant accrued benefits or death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle sprain in service was acute and transitory, and his current chronic left ankle disability is not causally related to service. His current chronic left knee disability also does not have a direct causal relationship with service or any incident therein.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spondylosis with spinal stenosis status post L2-L5 laminectomy does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, manifested by pain and limited motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 12, 2006.

The veteran is seeking service connection for generalized osteoarthritis, which he claims was caused by his job as an orthodontist during service and past sports activities. The VA needs to conduct a medical examination to determine if the veteran's current condition is related to these factors.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability does not warrant a higher evaluation due to lack of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability and normal range of motion. The current 10% rating adequately compensates for his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee as secondary to service-connected DJD of the right knee, finding that the veteran's left knee disability is caused by overuse and compensation due to his right knee injury.