Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The veteran seeks a current evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, which has been rated at 30 percent since June 2, 2005. The RO must reassess the severity of his disability and determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities do not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's right hip disability, which includes chronic bursitis and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 30 percent under DCs 5019-5252. The RO has not provided a higher rating for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not etiologically related to his service-connected gunshot wound residuals and denied a separate compensable disability rating for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for chondromalacia of the right patella and osteoarthritis is being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, chondromalacia of the right knee, and chondromalacia of the left knee were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disability, claimed as osteoarthritis of the left ankle, was not incurred or related to service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder, finding that she does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative arthritis, low back strain. The disability is currently rated at 10 percent under the old criteria.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current right knee disorders are related to his service, and thus remands the case for further examination and medical opinion.

The VA has determined that the veteran's residuals of degenerative arthritis, status post left knee replacement and medial meniscectomy do not warrant a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, recurrent cardiac dysrhythmias due to ischemic heart disease and coronary heart disease, was not related to his military service or any of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran seeks service connection for his left knee disability, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an informed medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's left knee disorder and his service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left hip and right hip disabilities have been denied. The lumbar spine disability has been granted a 20 percent rating from May to December 2006, but no greater.,There is no evidence of involvement of two or more major joints or minor joint groups with occasional incapacitating exacerbations in the veteran's left and right hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis and polyarthritis have been granted. The conditions were found to be related to service without any specific exposure basis or presumption.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination of the veteran's left knee disability in order to assess its current severity.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right acromioclavicular joint is related to an injury sustained in service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence of such disability in service or within one year post-service and concluding that it is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for minimal osteoarthritis, right knee with stress fracture and assigned initial ratings of 10 percent prior to April 4, 2005 and 20 percent as of that date.