Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints and skin disorder, but denied both on a new-and-material basis. The Veteran's claim for direct service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints was denied because there was no competent evidence linking it to his active service or to his service-connected malaria. His claim for a skin disorder was reopened due to the receipt of new and material evidence, but the Board did not find this sufficient to grant service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating and TDIU was granted, but the attorney is not eligible for payment of fees as it pertains to issues that were not decided by an appellate decision.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for left knee limitation of extension, a 20 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion, and denied increased ratings for post-operative residuals of left knee meniscectomy with instability and unstable left ankle associated with left knee meniscectomy. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee, status post total left knee arthroplasty, is etiologically related to an injury sustained in active service and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine was denied, as the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of this condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, which is not compensable.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, his heart disease has not been linked to service, and the claimed chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and blackout spells are not related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by degenerative arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent under the criteria for dislocation of the right knee with residual instability. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating due to their combined disability rating of 40 percent, which does not exceed the percentage requirements set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, his right knee and other service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and a need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining personnel records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of service connection for a left ankle disability and increased ratings for his elbow and ankle disabilities are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and secondary service connection for hypertension, pain disorder, obstructive sleep disorder, sciatica of the lower extremities bilaterally, and degenerative arthritis to the low back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of her knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was granted, with a 30 percent evaluation assigned for PTSD prior to October 26, 2007. The remaining claims were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his severe back and knee conditions, necessitated the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board granted SMC based on this need.

Throughout the rating period, the Veteran's left knee disability was productive of complaints of pain and limited motion. The objective evidence showed that at its worst, flexion and extension were from 5 to 90 degrees, with no demonstrated additional functional limitation due to pain or weakness, and no objective evidence of recurrent instability. As such, a rating in excess of 20 percent was not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The seronegative rheumatoid-like polyarthritis and benign prostatic hypertrophy with history of prostatitis, status post transurethral resection and bladder lesion are currently rated as 60 percent and 20 percent disabling respectively.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee has been dismissed due to his death.