Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to a lack of addressing certain evidence and lay statements in the original decision. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 60 percent due to severe pain and weakness. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis was granted, and a separate 10 percent evaluation was assigned for right lower extremity neurological manifestations. The current rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability is maintained.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip, which he claims is related to an in-service leg injury. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to missing service treatment records and other evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of low back and neck injuries, as well as his claim for prostate cancer. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chloracne was incurred during his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be proximately due to his service-connected bilateral knee disorder, and thus granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left elbow disability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to March 13, 2006 and after that date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, right and left knee disorders are all found to be related to service. The right and left knee disorders were aggravated by subsequent active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold weather injuries to the bilateral lower extremities was denied as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The low back strain and left knee conditions are currently rated at 20% and 10%, respectively, while the right knee condition is not related to service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obesity, have rendered him unable to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, feed himself without assistance, attend to his wants of nature, or protect himself from the hazards of his environment. He is therefore in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is not attributable to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for cysts were denied. The left hip osteoarthritis was rated at 10 percent, the right hip osteoarthritis (postoperatively) at 30 percent, and restrictive airway disease with bronchitis was not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disabilities, including patellar chondromalacia and osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral joint, were permanently aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for residuals of a fracture of the left distal fibula, right sacroiliitis, and left sacroiliitis were denied.,For degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, the Veteran was granted an initial rating of 10 percent from September 17, 2003 through March 2, 2008. A higher rating is not warranted for this condition during any period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine and right knee arthritis were denied.,Service connection was granted for irritable bowel syndrome, but a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 4, 2007 was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service or his service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right leg injuries have been granted increased ratings, and he is now eligible for a 10 percent rating for the residuals of gunshot wounds to the right medial thigh. Service connection has also been established for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.