Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's polyarthritis/rheumatoid arthritis is related to his service-connected prostate cancer, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine. The Board has remanded the case to obtain an opinion regarding whether this condition is related to in-service disease or injury, including any service-connected lumbar spine bulging discs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with low back pain have been denied. The RO has not found that any new evidence has reopened the claim or that there is a basis to grant an evaluation in excess of those assigned.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his left upper extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates was denied. The left knee osteoarthritis with instability is rated at 10 percent, the cellulitis of the left thigh is rated at 10 percent, but both have no effective date prior to May 4, 2005.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right knee osteoarthritis disability is related to his in-service injury during basic training, and thus service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected low back, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to establish the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, and finds that the preponderance of the evidence is in favor of the claim.

The Board denied increased ratings for left shoulder and left hip disabilities, finding that the current ratings of 20 percent were appropriate based on limitation of motion with additional functional impairment due to painful motion and weakness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been manifested by lateral meniscectomy with x-ray evidence of arthritis and complaints of pain on motion. Flexion is not limited to less than 45 degrees and extension is not limited to more than 5 degrees; locking, recurrent subluxation or instability of the knee has not been present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records and arranging for a VA examination during a flare-up of his disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hip disability is not related to an injury during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an extension of his delimiting date beyond March 27, 2009 due to lack of medical evidence showing that his service-connected left knee disability prevented him from initiating or completing educational programs prior to his delimiting date.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete VA examination, specifically a lack of evaluation for the appellant's reported burning numbness and tingling in his left knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right olecranon fracture and hip and pelvic fractures have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on the current functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his left knee disability is partially granted, with a 20 percent rating effective from March 25, 2009. However, the case is remanded to determine if he is entitled to an additional rating for instability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and residuals of a back injury, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.