Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflected his disability. The appellant did not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on her husband's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a one month extension of the temporary total rating for convalescence based on the service-connected right ankle condition, effective September 30, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and bilateral knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy at C6-7. The veteran's available service medical records do not show treatment for a cervical spine injury or disorder during his military service. There is no objective evidence of continuity of symptomatology after service. The initial demonstration of the disability at issue, years after service, is too remote from service to be reasonably related to service. No competent clinical evidence relates the veteran's current cervical spine disability to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, poor circulation, bilateral eye disorder, left knee disability, chronic liver disorder, nephropathy, pancreas disorder, osteoarthritis, and hypertension, were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's cervical spine condition was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not etiologically related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities are also denied as secondary to the cervical spine condition.

The veteran's initial ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities were denied, with the Board finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was initially granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected polyarthritis of the knees, hands, and ankles is being remanded due to a lack of adequate medical examination.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, as there was no evidence of limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disorder, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected left external popliteal nerve paralysis. The Board has decided that more evidence and an examination are needed to determine if the veteran's right knee disorder is indeed related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, DJD of the right hip, and DJD of the left hip as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disability and granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, but found no current evidence of a low back or vision disability. The veteran's claims are pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, residuals of a disability manifested by passing out during physical training, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the right ankle have been denied. Service connection was granted for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain warrants a 10 percent disability evaluation, and his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if any current bilateral knee disorder, including osteoarthritis, is related to the veteran's active service.

The veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities, but lacks the basic requirement for housebound status.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee conditions do not warrant a higher disability rating based on the evidence of record. The current evaluations are considered appropriate for both his status post right knee injury and osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected right knee disability. The TDIU claim will also be remanded as it may be impacted by the outcome of the service connection claim.

The Board found that the appellant's current back disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection.