Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability is the result of an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty during active duty for training, and the Board grants service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for VA pension benefits was denied as the evidence did not show he was permanently and totally disabled prior to November 1999.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of multiple joints, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability or any link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their severity and nature.

The Veteran's claimed left knee disability and bilateral hip arthritis are not found to be related to her service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly pension on account of being housebound due to his multiple disabilities independently rated at more than 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and additional notification to the Veteran.

The appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive VA examination and compliance with Vazquez-Flores v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 37 (2008).

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including swollen and painful joints (fibromyalgia), osteoarthritis of the spine, and neuropathy of the arms and legs, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to an in-service electrical shock.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the extent of his right hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected right knee and right little finger disabilities, including requests for increased ratings and a TDIU. The case is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records, vocational rehabilitation folder, and address an earlier effective date issue.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right shoulder disabilities was denied. The initial rating of 20 percent for recurrent dislocations and the current 10 percent rating for post-surgical right shoulder disability with residual partial fusion and osteoarthritis were both found to be appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left femur with fracture, leg shortening, and retained foreign bodies are currently rated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current clinical findings.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current, chronic shoulder disability and denied his claim for service connection as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability and his military service, including any claimed in-service injuries. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is rated at 20 percent, and his COPD is rated at 60 percent. The Board also found that he meets criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which included degenerative arthritis and some instability, was initially rated at 20 percent prior to November 15, 2005. After surgery in November 2005, the rating was increased to 10 percent effective January 1, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the merits of the claim for additional development.