Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for posttraumatic headaches, and concluded that his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Sjogren's syndrome and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the right knee and left knee, instability of the right knee, a scar from his inguinal region, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right hip, do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his left knee disorders and whether any right knee disorder is secondary to a left knee injury.

The Veteran died of natural causes with other significant conditions contributing to death but not related to the cause of death. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any disability was service-connected or caused his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, right knee disability, left trigger thumb, and nose bleeds is withdrawn. For sinusitis with rhinitis, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 24, 2009, and 30 percent from that date, has been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at the maximum 100 percent since June 19, 2006. His other claims are denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including scleroderma of the back or 'dry skin', hypertension, arthritis of the joints, and a bilateral foot disorder. The issues involving PTSD reopening, diabetes mellitus effective dates, and anatomical loss of both feet were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed right knee disability, including status post total knee replacement.

The Veteran's right hand disability, manifested by painful motion and degenerative arthritis but not ankylosis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine pain, nerve damage, and degenerative arthritis were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The preponderance of evidence showed no additional disability resulting from the October 2006 surgery.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial disability ratings for right knee degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and a scar on the abdomen was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis were denied, while the claim for service connection for basal cell skin cancer was not addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and left calf disabilities due to inadequate reasons and bases in the April 2010 decision, as well as the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and secondary service connection were denied. The right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, left knee disability was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and the low back disability was also not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of his current condition, requiring further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a low back condition, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative osteoarthritis, was granted. His pes planus disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. A new VA examination of his left knee and hip disability will also be scheduled.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medical meniscectomy, as well as degenerative arthritis, were denied by the Board. The conditions are currently rated at 20 percent for the former issue and 10 percent for the latter.

The Veteran's increased rating for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease has been granted, with a 20 percent evaluation effective from April 14, 2009.