Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2011

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability, specifically osteoarthritis, was incurred during active service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's right foot heel spur is rated at 10% due to moderate disability, but no higher.,Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as it does not cause limitation in motion or other functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected furuncles of the buttocks are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective December 31, 2003. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current skin condition.,For the portion of the appeal period prior to January 21, 2010, the Veteran's service-connected status post fracture of the left great toe with osteoarthritis was rated as noncompensable. For the portion of the appeal period from January 21, 2010, a rating higher than 20 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, specifically insomnia, is considered to be a result of his service-connected right shoulder disability. The Board has granted the claim for service connection on the secondary basis.

The Board has determined that there is a link between the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident and his current bilateral knee strain, which meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right leg condition, including osteoarthritis of the right knee, did not have its onset during service and is not related to an injury or disease in service. As a result, service connection for this condition was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development of the record, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination for hepatitis C etiology, and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the service-connected low back disability is necessary before deciding these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected fragment wound to the left thigh is currently rated at 10 percent, and his claim for a higher rating has been granted. However, his secondary knee disorder claim has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both legs is denied as he does not have the anatomical loss or loss of use of both legs due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a compression fracture, L1, is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for left groin proximal anterior thigh scar is denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is causally or etiologically related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis, compression fracture of the D12, L1 and L2, was rated at 40 percent from September 28, 2005, to July 12, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are related to active service, while his bilateral shin disorder is not.,VA medical examinations have supported the Veteran's claims for right and left knee osteoarthritis, attributing them to parachute injuries during active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for osteoarthritis of the hips. The Board has remanded this claim due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his current hip conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee prior to August 22, 2007 is not manifested by flexion limited to 30 degrees or less and extension limited to 15 degrees or more. For the period since total left knee replacement (October 1, 2008), his service-connected disability has not been manifested by severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from participating in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability, including associated scars, did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with limitation of flexion was not incurred in service and is not related to service or any incident therein. The claim for service connection is denied.