Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim of service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands, including the fingers can be adjudicated.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disability, which he believes is related to parachute jumps during service. The appeal is being remanded due to the need to obtain missing service treatment records and conduct an examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, osteoarthritis (claimed as arthritis of the left side of the body), left shoulder disability, and residuals of a left foot injury were all denied. The claim for PTSD was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including rheumatoid/osteoarthritis and peripheral neuropathy. The claims are not yet resolved.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional evidence from SSA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disability, tendonitis of the left ankle, osteoarthritis of the right hip, and low back disorder have been denied as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints and his claim for a disability rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and cervical arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty service. The evaluation claims were also found to be without merit.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disability and scars.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right knee disability, including a tear of the medial meniscus and osteoarthritis, was incurred during active service. The claim is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right and left knees are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5010-5260. The RO increased the evaluation for the right knee from noncompensable to 10 percent effective August 22, 2003, and for the left knee from noncompensable to 10 percent effective June 21, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee with limitation of flexion, left knee with limitation of flexion, and right knee with limitation of extension were denied.,An effective date prior to April 14, 2005 was granted for the grant of service connection for instability of the right knee.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for a special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to her physical conditions, which do not render her so helpless as to require assistance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his knee disabilities, as well as consideration of new VA outpatient treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of extra-schedular evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is more likely than not incurred in service during April 2002. The initial rating for LPM prior to October 25, 2004 was granted at 20 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a torn meniscus and osteoarthritis, was rated at 100 percent effective July 9, 2009 following his total left knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old Diagnostic Code 5292. The issue regarding post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee prior to October 26, 2004, is pending.