Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including osteoarthritis status-post total knee arthroplasty with pes anserine bursitis, was granted a 30% rating effective October 1, 2007. The decision also noted that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD warranted an initial increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a hearing before the Board. The case will be processed in accordance with established appellate procedure.

The Board has determined that an effective date of October 1, 2004, is granted for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of both knees, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on credible assertions and in-service stressors. For the cervical spine and meralgia paresthetica claims, new VA examinations are needed to assess current symptomatology and determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are found to be related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and lower back disabilities were denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's range of motion was limited, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral foot disability and low back disability was denied. The maximum schedular rating available for the bilateral foot disability is already in effect, while the maximum schedular rating available for the low back disability has been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability, including osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need to obtain inpatient treatment records from March Air Force Base related to his August 1969 motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and a determination on whether he qualifies for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, lower back disorder, and bilateral hip disorder have been denied. The evidence of record does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a supplemental VA examination to determine if his bilateral hip and knee disabilities are permanently aggravated by his service-connected hammertoes.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis and lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for an increased evaluation of chronic acne vulgaris prior to February 8, 2010, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no earlier formal or informal claim for the conditions listed.,An effective date of January 16, 1951 is granted for service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the retrieval of relevant treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and right knee disabilities did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, nor were they caused by or permanently aggravated by his service-connected neuritis of the saphenous nerve of the right lower extremity. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that osteoarthritis of the right knee, status post arthroplasty, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of left hand fracture, 5th metacarpal, was denied as his current disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The claim for service connection for a neurological disorder to include radicular pain of the left hand was also denied due to lack of evidence linking such condition to active duty service or a service-connected disability.