Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is granted due to his mental or physical incapacity, specifically requiring assistance with most basic activities of daily living.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for either the bilateral knees or pancreatitis, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disease with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, including radiculopathy of the right leg, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees, including lack of service treatment records and conflicting statements from witnesses.

The Board finds that a new substantive appeal was timely filed, perfecting an appeal of the October 2005 rating decision that denied service connection for a low back disorder, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with myopathy and myalgia.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and left hip disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The claims for secondary service connection due to a service-connected left ankle disability were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his employment status and additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar degenerative arthritis, was incurred in active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for a skin disability and for increased ratings for his left bicep with degenerative arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint. The Board found no current evidence of a diagnosed skin condition or active skin disease, and concluded that there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between any current symptoms and service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right great toe, finding that there was no intent to apply for this condition prior to April 2, 2003.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical nexus evidence and a need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective from July 2, 2005. The effective date is earlier than August 19, 2005 as the evidence shows that his full-time employment ended prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Board has determined that left knee degenerative arthritis was not incurred or aggravated in active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The lung disorder, including asbestosis, is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee arthritis, with a final rating of 10 percent for each knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and de novo consideration of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right ankle disability, which is currently rated at 30 percent, has been denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for spinal stenosis, lumbar region; osteoarthritis, feet and joints; cardiomyopathy and hypertension; and idiopathic angioedema. The evidence did not establish a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.