Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability in service or within one year post-service, and the VA examination did not establish a link between the veteran's current right knee condition and his service-connected left knee and back conditions. Therefore, the claim for direct service connection was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound of the left leg with healed compound, comminuted fracture is being remanded due to incomplete development and potential entitlement to additional benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected left knee disability and also denied his claim for service connection of a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right and left knee disabilities do not warrant increased ratings based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the right elbow, right ankle and both knees with hypermobile joint syndrome was granted. The current disability is rated at 20 percent.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 21, 2006. The medical evidence supports the finding that he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the periods specified.

The Board found no evidence of a direct link between the veteran's service and his current bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, thus denying his claim.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee in February 1977, finding that it pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. The veteran is now seeking to have this decision revised due to alleged clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and S1 joint osteoarthritis with range of motion limitation and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that a higher evaluation was not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine was not incurred in or related to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disorder.

The veteran seeks an extension of his eligibility period for Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits due to physical and mental disabilities preventing him from pursuing education during February 1992 to October 31, 2001. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining medical opinions on the feasibility of pursuing education during that time.

The Board finds that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is warranted. Service connection for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine is denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or association with service.

The VA determined that the veteran's lower back disability, characterized by degenerative disc disease and arthritis, does not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating than 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for low back strain with degenerative arthritis. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's current conditions were caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for sleep apnea and GERD. The veteran was not granted any new evaluations or connections.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various joint disorders, including degenerative joint disease-osteoarthritis, right rotator cuff, left rotator cuff, and left hip replacement.

The Board has granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder and 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, effective September 9, 1996.