Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic residuals of polyarticular septic arthritis, osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, and osteoarthritis of the right knee. The examiner found no direct link between these conditions and her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if there is a relationship between the veteran's current back disability and his service in May 1956.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition, finding that there is no record of treatment or diagnosis related to cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and right fibula, finding that these conditions are associated with the veteran's active duty service.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, including the bullet fragment and gunshot wound, results in radiated pain but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee manifestations with osteoarthritis due to altered gait, and right foot plantar warts were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for these conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 28, 1995 for the assignment of a separate 10 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected conditions, including erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, and bilateral pes planus. The veteran was also denied service connection for hyperlipidemia.

The veteran's current 20% evaluation for right knee ligament avulsion with degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed knee disabilities are not related to his military service and thus denied his claims.

The veteran's low back disability was increased to a 20 percent rating effective March 16, 2007. His bilateral knee disabilities remain at 10 percent.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was barred due to the finality of a prior decision granting service connection and assigning an effective date of January 22, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected multiple joint osteoarthritis does not result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring regular and constant use of a wheelchair, walker, braces, crutches, or canes as a normal mode of locomotion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his increased disability ratings for service-connected bilateral knee disorders.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis are being remanded to allow for additional development of the medical records and for a new VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during service or for over 30 years after separation. The veteran's current low back degenerative arthritis is not related to his active duty service and is not secondary to hepatitis C, which is also not service-connected.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are not attributable to his active military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, assigning a 20 percent rating each.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with the highest rating of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a 20 percent rating effective from September 26, 2003, for degenerative arthritis in the cervical and thoracic spine.