Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee and instability of the right knee, were all granted. The Veteran now has a 10 percent evaluation for each condition.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is found to be related to his military service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current back or bilateral knee disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.,For the bilateral leg disorder issue, there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease, L4-5, L5-S1 was denied. The claim for service connection for idiopathic thrombocarpin purpura with systemic lupus erythermatosus (claimed as thrombocarpin) was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's right foot disability, pes planus with degenerative arthritis, did not warrant an increased evaluation as it was of moderate severity and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right ankle and knee disabilities were denied. The claim to reopen a right wrist disability was granted, but no new evaluation is assigned as the highest schedular rating has already been reached.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link any of the disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for internal derangement syndrome of the left knee and osteoarthritis of the left knee have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected post-operative residuals of a right navicular fracture, finding that there was no evidence to support a higher rating based on impairment of the radius or other diagnostic codes. The preponderance of the evidence did not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee injury was denied by the Board, as the evidence did not show significant functional loss associated with the knee.

The Veteran's representative has indicated that the severity of his lumbar strain may have increased since the last VA examination over 4 years ago. The case is being remanded to allow for an updated VA examination and a merits analysis.

The Board denied the claim of clear and unmistakable error in the July 14, 1950 rating decision that granted service connection for a right ankle sprain with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right ankle is manifested by ankylosis, and he is currently receiving a 40% rating for this condition. The Board denied his request for an increased rating as the current evaluation adequately compensates for his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip replacements, a right knee disability (claimed as secondary to left knee DJD), and lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and prostate enlargement were also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right Achilles tendon status post rupture and repairs, as well as his osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with chronic low back pain, are service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is rated at 10 percent, and his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the hips is proximately due to his service-connected right fibula fracture, and thus grants the claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity as to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment at any time during the period relevant to this appeal.