Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left medial meniscectomy prior to November 16, 2004. A separate 10 percent increased rating was granted for instability and recurrent subluxation from November 18, 2003 to November 16, 2004. The appeal is pending regarding a rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative arthritis after January 1, 2006.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest opportunity.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of laminectomy due to new and material evidence submitted since the prior final denial in December 1982. The VA will schedule a medical examination to determine if the current low back disability is related to service.

The veteran is granted service connection for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and its associated joint disabilities, but denied service connection for valvular heart disease.,Service connection was not granted for residuals of rheumatic fever as the condition preexisted service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both his right and left knees, finding that there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis or link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions, including residuals of rheumatic fever and body rash, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The appellant did not have a pre-existing condition of rheumatic fever at entry into service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently severe to meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability warrants a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's right shoulder and left leg disorders to his active service. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, hypertension, osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, and chronic colds/allergies due to asbestos exposure have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis of hepatitis. Hypertension was not shown in service or within one year after discharge. Osteoarthritis of the right and left knees were not shown in service or during the first year post-service, and there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, right knee post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and left ankle disability have been granted. The evaluation for the lumbosacral spine has been increased to 40 percent from September 16, 1995 to November 16, 1997, and then to 50 percent from February 27, 2006 onwards.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder, including post-operative left shoulder dislocations and osteoarthritis. The pre-existing condition worsened during active duty military service, resulting in current disability.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, effective from June 1996. The veteran's psoriasis is not considered separately as it does not meet the criteria for separate rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of service periods and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board granted separate 10 percent ratings for osteoarthritis of the right and left hip, a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and 30 percent rating for duodenal ulcer, hiatal hernia and erosive esophagitis effective from October 25, 1999.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized osteoarthritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's peptic ulcer disease was initially rated at 10 percent and increased to 40 percent effective July 28, 2005.,The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine was initially rated at 20 percent from May 5, 2000 and increased to 40 percent from July 28, 2005.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence from VA outpatient clinics and private physicians.