Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine has been evaluated at 20 percent since September 30, 2004. The Board found that his disability did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, meniscal tear and tendonitis of the right knee, kidney condition, and PTSD have all been denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's in-service right knee injury and his current right knee osteoarthritis, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand and fourth finger disabilities are not the cause of his current right wrist disability, but it is possible that compensating for the weakness in his hand by using his wrist over the years may have aggravated his right wrist.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 9, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current right leg or left leg disorder related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for the Veteran's neurological manifestations of his cervical spine disability, effective from when the claim was filed.

The Board has dismissed the claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain as there is no pending appeal on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to render him unemployable without regard to advancing age or the presence of any nonservice-connected disorders. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine as it was incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated as 60 percent disabling, with a separate 20 percent rating for lateral instability. The right knee disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to February 7, 2011 and increased to 100 percent from that date until March 31, 2012, then rated as 60 percent thereafter. A separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability is granted prior to February 7, 2011, and a noncompensable rating for scar associated with right knee arthroplasty is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and/or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his spine disability and radiculopathy, as well as the issue of entitlement to a TDIU, are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or related to her service-connected disabilities, including her right ankle disability. The cause of death was a pulmonary embolism due to an auto accident.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his left knee disorder and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder disability, bilateral thigh disability, and cervical spine disability. The evidence did not establish a nexus between any current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or compensation for either condition.