Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The Board finds that the veteran has a current chronic low back disability that began during service, and grants service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis at L5-S1.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied as there is no evidence that the condition is related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran is granted a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits due to his advanced age and current level of disability, which render him permanently unemployable.

The veteran's left shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The case is remanded for the veteran to be scheduled for a new videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's left knee disability was rated 30 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion. The right knee and lumbar spine disabilities were rated at 20% and 40%, respectively, from April 30, 2007.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the veteran's claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim for residuals of gonorrhea, and that the arthritis of multiple joints was not related to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis of both knees, as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The veteran was granted a 20% evaluation for gout, but service connection for osteoarthritis was denied.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the issues on appeal.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's status-post laminectomy at L5-S1, as the evidence did not show forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks during the appeal period.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, but denied service connection for osteoarthritis of both shoulders.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that osteoarthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine is related to service, nor did it become manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding no causal link between his current lumbar osteoarthritis and any incident in service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the case for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hypertension and knee disabilities, as the evidence did not show that the conditions had worsened to a degree that would warrant higher ratings.

The veteran's claims were dismissed due to his death.