Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of the current evaluations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left elbow, right leg, right foot, and right knee are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for osteoarthritis of the back is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder and finds that it is related to service, granting service connection on a direct basis.

The veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10% each, reflecting limitation of motion.

The veteran's right shoulder and ankle disabilities have been evaluated based on their current status, with a 30% rating for the right shoulder since September 15, 2003, and a 20% rating for the right ankle since that date. The claims for increased ratings are denied.,The veteran's arthritis of the right shoulder and ankle have not been shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, chondrocalcinosis, and possible medial meniscal tear, did not manifest during service or due to any incident of service. The examiner opined that the current condition is likely chronic in nature and developed over time.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder and degenerative arthritis of multiple joints are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to NSC pension effective October 4, 2004, based on his total disability due to multiple service-connected disabilities. The effective date was granted as it is the earliest possible date when the record showed the criteria for NSC pension were met.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating and an earlier effective date for service connection were granted. The current disability rating is 40 percent, effective May 31, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spouse requires regular aid and attendance due to her multiple physical conditions, including osteoarthritis and statis myositis. The evidence supports this finding based on medical statements and testimony from the veteran and his grandson.

The veteran's right knee Baker's cyst and osteoarthritis were not found to warrant a higher rating for the period February 1, 2003, to March 16, 2007.

The veteran's request for a special home adaptation grant was denied, and the appeal regarding the January 2005 grant of special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current left knee disability is related to his service.

The VA has granted a temporary evaluation of 100 percent for the service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture due to convalescence, and then reassigned an evaluation of 10 percent effective October 1, 2006. The veteran's disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development, including addressing his claim of service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the shoulders as secondary to a service-connected cervical fusion with degenerative joint disease. The TDIU claim is also deferred pending resolution of the secondary service connection issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for BPH, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's left knee scar and osteoarthritis of the left knee were both denied, but his claim to reopen service connection for osteoarthritis was granted. The evaluation for the left knee scar remains noncompensable.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine as a residual of a spinal contusion/abrasion is not productive of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, incapacitating episodes, or unfavorable ankylosis. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion regarding whether the significant osteoarthritis of the right first metatarsophalangeal joint is proximately due to or the result of the service-connected right foot fractures.