Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination by a rheumatologist and adjudication of the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as his request for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability. The issues of left hip disorder and low back disability were remanded.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, which was granted service connection for in July 2002 and rated at 10 percent since then, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinea pedis and cruris with onychomycosis, residuals of left knee strain, and osteoarthritis of the ankles. The conditions were rated under direct service connection criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder pain and PTSD were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional impairment or other criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his current low back disability to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, did not begin during service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder and left knee disabilities were denied. The right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, while the left knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra is currently productive of no more than a moderate limitation of motion, warranting a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left hip disability, including degenerative arthritis, is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and ankles, atrial flutter and enlarged heart, and initial rating for bilateral varicose veins were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty or training.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted sufficient to reopen the claims of bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, right hand and fingers disability, lupus erythematosus, generalized degenerative arthritis, hypertension, Sjorgren's disease, stomach disability, prostate disability, residuals of a fractured right forefinger, and residuals of an injury to the left side. The veteran is seeking to reopen these claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating of 20 percent for his right shoulder injury with degenerative arthritis.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral elbow condition and cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in or related to his active service. The veteran was denied both service connection for these conditions and an increased rating for his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and left leg radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of recent treatment records.

The veteran's appeal is denied as he has not met the criteria for an extension of his delimiting date beyond November 4, 2003.

The VA determined that the appellant's spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine, previously rated as degenerative arthritis of the lower back, did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbosacral strain, cervical spine disability, or left shoulder disability related to service.,The veteran's current disabilities are attributed to post-service injuries and degenerative changes.