Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, began during his honorable period of service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed to determine the cause of the appellant's left knee disability and whether it is related to his military service. The case will be remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the case was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that the veteran's reported symptoms started during his period of active duty. The other claims were denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his TDIU claim. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for left knee disabilities and a TDIU.

The Board is remanding both issues for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination to assess his current left hip and knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current right knee and foot disabilities are directly related to his service-connected left foot fracture, or if they were aggravated by it.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for spondylolisthesis, L4-5, Grade I, with bilateral pars defect, L4 and radiculopathy of the left leg. The RO had previously granted a temporary total rating based on convalescence.

The veteran's combined disability evaluation has increased, and he was awarded service connection for two new disabilities. A VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran can secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran is seeking service connection for multiple back and hip disabilities, including scoliosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with incontinence, DJD of the left hip with hip replacement and postoperative dislocations, and DJD of the right hip. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain a VA examination for an opinion on the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, but rather by alcohol intoxication. The cause of death is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to cause his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's x-ray residuals are rated at 80 percent, and he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for partial loss of his right ear. The left shoulder condition is rated at 30 percent.,The veteran's left shoulder condition does not warrant an increased rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis, impairment of the humerus, marked interference with employment, or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome at L4 and L5 with degenerative arthritis is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The ratings for sciatica in the left lower extremity and right lower extremity are also granted at 20 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and unclear evidence regarding current residuals of in-service injuries. The veteran's claim for service connection is being reviewed with additional medical examination.

The veteran's claims for gastro-intestinal disorder, osteoarthritis, and muscle disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and determine if new evidence has been submitted to reopen his gastro-intestinal disorder claim.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of migraine headaches and tinea pedis were remanded. The Board denied service connection for a disorder of the nervous system, chronic dermatophytosis (other than tinea pedis), neurosis, degenerative arthritis, DDD, and forearm disorder as they are not related to his military service.

The veteran's death was caused by a laceration of the brain due to a car accident, not related to any service-connected condition. The cause of death is deemed to be willful misconduct.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected dorsal spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to August 18, 2006, and 40 percent thereafter.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 and granted a compensable evaluation (10%) for status post right heel fracture.