Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip disorder is not related to his military service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine as secondary to left knee and/or left hip strain.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, osteoarthritis, did not begin during service and was not related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, characterized by osteoarthritis of each knee joint and postoperative residuals of multiple surgical procedures, originated in or as a result of military service. The Veteran's time as a firefighter in the Air Force is believed to have led to the wear and tear on his knees resulting in arthritis.

The Board has restored the Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint of his right thumb, and also addressed the issues of hypertension secondary to PTSD/Agent Orange exposure and TDIU. Service connection was granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, claimed as lumbosacral strain, and his degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine are at least as likely as not attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder, left knee, and coccyx disabilities have been rated as appropriate based on their current functional limitations. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and shoulder disabilities have been evaluated, but none of the claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Veteran's residuals of frostbite in both feet are rated at 30 percent each, the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of a claim to reopen due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine osteoarthritis, with the appeal covering both initial evaluations and subsequent increases.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is proximately caused by his service-connected DM, Type II. Service connection for a low back disorder and increased evaluations for hammer toes are granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected right middle finger disability, manifested by traumatic arthritis with pain on motion and functional loss due to pain, warrants a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities was granted, with the cervical spine receiving a 20 percent rating effective June 1, 2007.

The Veteran seeks service connection for disorders of the knees, legs, and hips as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA medical examination to determine if any diagnosed lower extremity arthritic conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for instability and arthritis, while his left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for arthritis. Both disabilities are not shown to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected right foot fracture residuals and his claimed disabilities of the feet, knees, hips, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by chronic pain and radiculopathy, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent.