Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, to include as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the right femur, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of his shoulder condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and denied a claim for an increased rating for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for bilateral ankle osteoarthritis and denied an increase rating for prostatitis. The veteran's claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's initial service-connected gastritis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy of the left leg were not found to warrant higher ratings. The seizure disorder was also denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and is requesting further action on his appeal regarding a March 2006 rating decision assigning an initial compensable disability evaluation for his nasal bridge, right medial cheek, and right nasolabial fold scar.

The veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring necessary special home adaptations as he already has the required rating and does not meet other eligibility criteria.

The Board granted service connection for a right posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear with osteoarthritis and assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation, effective July 12, 2002. The veteran's knee has been manifested by flexion limited to no less than 45 degrees and extension limited to no less than 0 degrees.

The veteran's lumbar spine laminectomy with fusion is rated at 10 percent, and he has a separate rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy. His left hip osteoarthritis and early degenerative arthritis of the right knee are each rated at 10 percent. Bilateral cataracts with dry eye syndrome and punctuate keratitis are rated at 0 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to his active service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support presumptive service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a neurological examination to determine if there are separate ratable neurological manifestations associated with the veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The VA granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective January 18, 2005.,The VA denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied service connection for right heel spur, left heel spur, and right knee disorder (osteoarthritis) as the evidence did not show a relationship to active duty or National Guard service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, finding that these conditions are the result of active duty service. The claims for residuals of a right ankle stress fracture and residuals of a right hand injury were denied as there is no evidence of such disabilities in service or within one year post-service.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, effective June 5, 2007. The current condition involves some evidence of meniscus pathology, pain on motion with flexion limited to 80 degrees and no limitation of extension.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not show a marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to his condition. The current evaluation of 40% is maintained.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, lower extremity disability, and pension benefits due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The veteran was found not permanently and totally disabled from non-service connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, hypertension, and degenerative osteoarthritis due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred due to his military service. The Board also determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service-connected residuals of a medial meniscectomy of the left knee.

The veteran's skin cancer claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or herbicide exposure. The low back disability claim results in a denial due to the lack of medical evidence showing that the condition was incurred during service or due to herbicide exposure. The postoperative inguinal hernia claim also results in a denial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for higher initial evaluations for his left hip disability is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from September 13, 2001 to February 9, 2004 and 30 percent from April 1, 2005.