Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a need to consider other psychiatric disorders and obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30% from March 28, 2006 to July 16, 2007. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to and after this period.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left ilium may have aggravated his low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, a left knee disability, and arthritis due to issues related to secondary service connection.

The Board has granted special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance, finding that the Veteran requires assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, meal preparation, housework, shopping, and preparing food.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and whether he timely filed a substantive appeal in the matter of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and medical opinion regarding service connection for bilateral knee and low back osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the spine is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from acute coronary syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for right knee osteoarthritis and essential hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's neck pain was also denied as not being related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, right knee disability service connection, and low back disability were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, left hand, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to May 27, 2008, for his service-connected left knee disability was granted. The Veteran also had his claim for avascular necrosis as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected total right knee replacement, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and osteoarthritis of the left knee are currently rated at 40%, 20%, and 10% respectively. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's knee conditions do not meet or approximate criteria for a higher initial evaluation, and thus denied his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right hand first manifested during service or within one year after discharge, and there is no evidence to suggest it is not related to his military service. As such, he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, with depression, has been granted. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the Remand portion of this decision.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was increased to 40 percent effective January 5, 2006. His claim for incomplete paralysis of the right lower extremity remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that a right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.