Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing at the RO. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, bilateral knee and hip disorders, and low back disorder. The reopened claims are now considered together as all acquired psychiatric conditions are included.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his right ankle disability, including any related secondary conditions. The claim will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus and denied increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and early posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee, finding that there was no evidence to support a worsening during service or aggravation.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by post-traumatic degenerative joint disease and patella chondromalacia, results in limited flexion to 74 degrees with normal extension. The VA examiner found no ankylosis or objective evidence of instability despite the Veteran's subjective complaints.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities did not warrant a separate rating for limitation of flexion, and thus severed the separate 20 percent rating. The claim for increased rating was denied as there was no evidence showing aggravation of lumbar spine disorder by service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis and a rotator cuff tear, is service-connected as secondary to her service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is presumed to be related to the fall caused by her service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee conditions, including chondromalacia patella with lateral meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis, subluxation of the knee, and limitation of flexion, are rated at 30 percent under DC 5257 for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, which includes a history of a fracture and current osteoarthritis, does not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond the currently assigned 10% due to lack of favorable ankylosis in dorsiflexion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for degenerative osteoarthritis of the left knee was granted, but not in excess of 10 percent from March 14, 2007, to October 7, 2008.,A temporary total evaluation for status post left knee arthrotomy was awarded retroactive to March 14, 2007. The claim remained in controversy as less than the maximum benefit available was awarded.,Service connection for a left TKA and a 30 percent rating effective December 1, 2009 were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be productive of a disability picture that precludes her from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and work experience.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings were granted. He was awarded service connection for right knee disabilities, anosmia, and left foot tinea pedis (athlete's foot). Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain service personnel records, SSA disability benefits records, and other pertinent records. The issues on appeal include service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction were all denied. The Board found no current disabilities to support these claims.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and osteoarthritis. The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left ankle disability, to include a talor dome lesion in the left ankle. The preponderance of evidence supports that the current talor dome lesion is etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left hip is found to be related to an abnormal gait associated with his service-connected left foot disability, and thus granted as secondary.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor is it proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, trochanteric bursitis, and total hip replacement residuals; right hip osteoarthritis; and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with laminectomy residuals. These conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected right foot and left foot disabilities.