Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for chronic lumbar strain and osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the evaluation from 20 percent to 10 percent for right patella fracture residuals with osteoarthritis was not proper, and restored the original 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 10, 2007 and increased to 20 percent effective May 10, 2007.

The Veteran's active duty service was less than the required 36 months for full benefit, and thus he is only eligible for a reduced benefit level of 60%. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his military service or to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus denied both direct and secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his osteoarthritis of the left knee status post total knee replacement did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and sensory deficit of the anterior branch of the medial calcaneal nerve, left foot have been rated as 10 percent for the periods specified. The effective dates are based on when these disabilities were first service-connected.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids resulted in persistent bleeding with fissures, warranting a 20 percent rating for the period prior to February 17, 2010.,For his right knee disability, the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating effective from February 17, 2010.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis status post shoulder replacement is granted service connection. The Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis was not incurred during active duty service and is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special home adaptation grant due to his blindness in both eyes or loss of use of both hands.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative osteoarthritis was evaluated at 30 percent from June 13, 2003, to October 13, 2003. The claim for an increased rating is denied as the evidence does not show that extension of the left knee was limited to 30 degrees.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left hip is found to be related to his service, specifically multiple parachute jumps where he landed on his left side and sustained injuries. The Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limitation of motion, has been granted a 10 percent rating since February 1, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for spinal stenosis, arthritis (claimed as psoriatic arthritis), skin cancer, bilateral thumb condition, and increased rating for psoriasis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection on a secondary basis due to lack of medical nexus between the conditions and his service-connected psoriasis. Direct service connection was also not established.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine is denied. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran had filed a claim or informal claim prior to October 23, 2008, and thus, the effective date cannot be earlier than this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his psychiatric and orthopedic disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for the psychiatric disability prior to June 24, 2002, or in excess of 70 percent as of June 24, 2002. For his left and right knee disabilities, the Board found that evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are not service-connected, as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his headaches associated with the cervical spine disability, degenerative arthritis of both knees, are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The primary issue concerns the evaluation of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, while another issue pertains to reopening his claim for left knee strain.