Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have physical residuals secondary to nitrogen narcosis.,Degenerative arthritis of the hips was first manifested years after service and is unrelated to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active service, and there is no probative evidence linking postservice bilateral knee osteoarthritis to service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable disability rating for his left knee condition were granted, with the initial rating of 10% effective May 29, 1998. The issue of a separate disability rating for a left tibia disorder was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder of the left hand, including lymphangitis, trigger finger, and osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination, as well as clarification of his work absences.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability. After considering all of the evidence, including private treatment records and VA examination reports, the Board finds that there is equipoise as to whether the current left ankle osteoarthritis is related to military service. Therefore, the claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology and no relationship between any current low back disability and his military service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including active duty for training and inactive duty for training. The Board finds no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted an increased rating for degenerative arthritis at L5-S1, but denied service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's current essential hypertension is related to symptoms in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected low back intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis, and right sciatic neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder or polyarthritis, and denied both claims.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's left hip, left leg, or low back disorders are related to his active service.,VA medical records do not provide sufficient information to establish a nexus between any current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left hand, including advanced basal thumb arthrosis, degenerative arthritis of the first metacarpal joint, and osteoarthritis of the thumb interphalangeal joint, is found to have begun in service and continues to this day.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints, including bilateral knees, hips, ankles, shoulders and elbows and the left wrist, is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the knees and ankles were granted with 10% evaluations, but denied for higher ratings. The effective dates are not specified.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent effective March 27, 2013. The rating for left hip osteoarthritis and left middle finger osteoarthritis remains unchanged.

The VA determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his range of motion was within the limits specified for a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection and increased evaluation remain under review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with the effective dates being March 1, 1975 (for hypermobility of the right patellar tendon) and August 1, 2004 (for residuals of dislocation of the left patella).