Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an initial 30 percent evaluation effective January 18, 2006. The Board also granted a separate 20 percent evaluation for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, is related to his service-connected gunshot wound to the left elbow. The Board also found that the Veteran's vertigo was incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and shoulder disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran's scars did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected disabilities and an opinion on whether he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's migratory polyarthritis is found to have had its onset during active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for right hip degenerative arthritis prior to March 31, 2009 was denied. Since March 31, 2009, the rating has been granted at 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis has been productive of flexion limited to 110 degrees, with extension limited to between 0 and 10 degrees, with objective evidence of painful motion. The RO granted a 10 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disability of the left first carpometacarpal joint was incurred in active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips with acetabular cysts was not incurred during active service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand osteoarthritis is as likely as not due to in-service trauma, and his left hand arthritis was not incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as PTSD). The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and that the medical opinion provided by the VA examiner did not support a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the low back was denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred during or aggravated by his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his claim of service connection for osteoarthritis of both hips, status post total arthroplasty in the right hip, was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder condition was not caused by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant an extra-schedular rating, but he is found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with sciatica is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 6, 2010. The appeal for higher ratings prior to this date has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development of medical evidence regarding his eligibility for a powered mobility device, including an examination to assess his physical disabilities and their impact on his ability to use a wheelchair.