Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disability is service-connected, as it is linked to his military service and documented in the medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension with coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft times four, was not incurred or aggravated during active service and its incurrence or aggravation during service may not be presumed. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA joints examination, and readjudicating the increased rating claims on appeal.

The veteran's right shoulder disability, which included recurrent subluxation and osteoarthritis, was rated at 100% effective July 5, 2005 due to the partial prosthetic replacement surgery.

The Board has determined that osteochondritis dissecans of the left hip was incurred in active duty and granted service connection for this condition. The issue regarding osteoarthritis and dysplasia of the left hip is addressed separately.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with chronic low back pain and sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to the low back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperhidrosis, or residuals of cold injuries to either lower extremity.

The veteran's claims for service connection on a secondary basis were denied, while his skin disability claim was granted. The veteran received staged ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a grant for his tender scar related to gunshot wounds. His right and left sciatic neuritis claims were both denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his L5/S1 osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as cervical spine osteoarthritis. The RO will schedule a VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board has found no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claim of osteoarthritis of the hips, wrists, and right knee. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and residuals of a chronic lumbar strain, as well as his claim for an increased rating for coccygodynia. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide further development.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant or his representative has withdrawn it.

The veteran's appeal involves two issues: service connection for residuals of a sacral fracture and degenerative osteoarthritis of the sacrococcygeal joint, claimed as secondary to his service-connected pilonidal cystectomy; and an increased rating for post-operative scar residuals of pilonidal cystectomy. The Board has determined that both matters are inextricably intertwined and must be adjudicated together.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated based on all evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic lung disorder and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service or service-connected disabilities. The veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his in-service illness.,Service connection was also denied for osteoarthritis of the right hip as there was no formal or informal claim received prior to February 22, 2007.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his back disability and PTSD, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The rating for his erectile dysfunction remains at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection were denied. The VA found that his migraine headaches, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, asthma, allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, hypertension, residuals of a nose fracture, anemia, diverticulosis, and narcissistic personality disorder did not warrant increased ratings or service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to the RO for additional consideration of new evidence provided by him.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, as well as his increased evaluation claims for residuals of a fractured right talus and injuries to the left shoulder and elbow. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current right knee condition to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that a rating of 20 percent is warranted for the veteran's osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine, as it results in muscle spasms or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait.