Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The veteran seeks service connection for secondary disabilities of his low back, neck, and arms due to his service-connected knee disabilities. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA outpatient records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination.

The veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent, her allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and her left knee condition is service-connected.

The VA determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the right hip, which is already rated at 30 percent, does not warrant an increase in disability rating.

The veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have any current disabilities related to his claimed conditions.

The veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee is granted, with a temporary total rating due to surgery and a separate rating for removal of semilunar cartilage. The claimant also receives an increased rating for his right knee prior to December 4, 2006.

The veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities prior to April 2005 were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder and disorders of the shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands were not incurred or aggravated by service. The veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on arthritis or other specified diseases.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as asthma. The evidence does not support a link between any current knee or asthma disability and active service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The veteran's current cervical spine disability is linked to his active duty service, but there is no direct evidence linking it to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a challenge to the validity of the creation of the disability compensation overpayment indebtedness. The veteran and his representative have specifically articulated this challenge, requiring further development before considering the issue of waiver.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, as well as her requests for earlier effective dates. The RO established service connection for right knee medial compartment degenerative joint disease but denied other claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations or service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and review of additional medical evidence. The veteran seeks service connection for his pre-existing Legg-Perthes disease which he contends was aggravated by active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and osteoarthritis of the right ankle, finding that the current evaluations were appropriate given the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether all service-connected disabilities combine to render the veteran unemployable. The claim will also be submitted to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration based on a private physician's December 2007 opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show a marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to these conditions. The RO had previously granted an increased disability rating from 20% to 30%.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the hips, knees, wrists, and elbows, a bladder disability manifested by an overactive bladder, epididymitis with orchitis, a kidney disorder, depression, and PTSD are all denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA Board found that the veteran's right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, limitation of motion, and instability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum available rating under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limitation of motion. The claim for an increased evaluation was denied.