Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The Board granted a 30 percent schedular rating for stress fracture of the right tibia with right knee degenerative arthritis and a similar rating for the left leg, based on marked knee disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for earlier effective dates of service connection for various disabilities, and the claims were dismissed.

The veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the shoulders and a psychiatric disorder were denied due to a lack of new and material evidence.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling for right knee osteoarthritis and meniscectomy, both for the period from August 22, 2002 to September 15, 2006 and as of November 1, 2007.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the previous denial did not provide a medical nexus linking the veteran's left ankle disorder to his active service, and therefore denied reopening of the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right knee and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for scoliosis, osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with incontinence, DJD of the left hip, and DJD of the right hip as there was no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on direct service connection and in-service aggravation questions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is unrelated to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, and the ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy were increased to 10 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, to include osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including the scheduling of VA examinations and providing proper notice to the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and a heart condition, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid regurgitation, atrial fibrillation and aortic valve sclerosis.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence and consideration.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips was granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disability, benign prostatic hypertrophy, bronchial asthma, vertigo, and polyarthritis as these conditions were not shown to be related to the veteran's active service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis has been rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition.