Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current low back disorders are not linked to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his right ankle disability, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for the symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage of the right knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine in March 2005. The Court affirmed this decision, and the Veteran appealed to the BVA. New evidence submitted since the last denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his right knee disorder and his cardiovascular conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis did not have its onset in service and is unrelated to his period of active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical services claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the nature of the emergency and feasibility of VA facilities.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and did not address the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of gunshot wound to the right side of chest with hemothorax and retained foreign body. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA opinion regarding the presence of instability in his right knee following total knee replacement, and whether he should be granted a separate compensable rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric conditions, knee and spine issues, high blood pressure, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder, diagnosed as left ankle osteoarthritis and status post excision of partial bone of the distal tibia and talus, is related to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's knee disorders do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back pain with left radiculopathy and right hip degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral hearing loss disability were not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and right hip disabilities are attributed to known clinical diagnoses, not service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that there was no evidence to support a higher rating or secondary service connection. The right foot disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disability and therefore denied the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, as well as thoracic spondylosis, were evaluated at a 10 percent rating since November 1, 2003. The Board found that these conditions did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.