Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his current disability status and ability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities were granted a disability rating of 10 percent, effective as of the date of claim for increase. The appeal was not about service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of SSA records. The Veteran's low back disorder is being evaluated to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to newly received medical records and is requesting further development before a decision can be made.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is not due to or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches, cervical spine disability involving a herniated disc at C-6, and right shoulder disorder were incurred in service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claim is needed, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA orthopedic examination to determine if his left knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee, status post surgery with degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent since June 2005. The current symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of a left knee injury, and residuals of a left ankle injury due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the loss of use of both feet, entitling him to special monthly compensation at the maximum rate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision did not address the issue of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to pending issues regarding earlier effective dates for service connection and increased initial ratings. The case will be returned to the Board after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right eye disability, hepatitis, left hip disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral leg disability, and right foot and ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his appeal on the issue of increased rating for right knee degenerative arthritis was dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his service personnel records and treatment records to verify the stressor incident and to obtain VA examinations for psychiatric disorders, bilateral knee disorder, and right hip disorder.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for sciatica with L2-L3 radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with radiculopathy. The Board finds that an effective date of October 29, 2003, but not earlier, is warranted for the former claim. However, the Veteran's September 27, 2004, claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with radiculopathy represents a new claim and thus an effective date prior to this date is denied.,The Board finds that neither a formal nor informal claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder was received prior to September 27, 2004. Therefore, an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle disability, and left knee disability.