Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left elbow was denied.

The veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed emotion, anxiety and depression was rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, as these conditions were not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, an eye disability (claimed as eye sensitivity and pain), and a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's annual countable income was also found to be excessive for receipt of nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA scar examination and examinations of the veteran's hips and abdominal muscles.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis and heart disease, finding no evidence of a current diagnosis or that the conditions were related to service. The claim for beriberi was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was determined to be related to an injury from a mine explosion in service, while other conditions were denied service connection.

The veteran's claims for initial disability ratings greater than 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and residuals of a right ankle sprain with chronic lateral instability were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, chronic low back pain, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine were remanded for further development.

The veteran's back disability was rated at 20 percent, and service connection for a bilateral knee disability was denied.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and cervical segments of the spine as there was no evidence that it had onset during service or was caused by a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded to the RO/AMC for further development, including a new VA examination.

The veteran's right knee condition is manifested by range of motion from 0 to 110 degrees flexion with painful motion, but not by subluxation or instability or severe functional impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the hands, and degenerative arthritis of the shoulders as these conditions were not incurred in active service, to include as residuals of cold injury.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right ankle, right thumb, and erectile dysfunction disabilities as they did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities were granted increased ratings of 30 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent respectively.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee conditions, and thus remands the case back to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition that is secondary to the veteran's service-connected knee conditions. The claims of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions prior to December 17, 2002 were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not show that the veteran's right knee conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10%.