Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for the appellant's PTSD disability, finding that it meets the criteria for such a rating. The lumbar spine disability is also rated at its maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a compensable evaluation were denied. The effective date of service connection for his right hip disability was also denied.

The Board has granted compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a broken left leg, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoporosis of the left knee due to VA medical treatment on September 16, 1996. The claim for compensation related to right tibia fracture, bilateral lower extremity staph infections, and bilateral lower extremity osteomyelitis was denied as there is no indication that these conditions are proximately due to VA care or an unforeseeable event.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his time in service.,Service connection was also denied for a back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim and for an increased rating, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran's old contusion of the back resulting in low back pain was evaluated at a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during active or reserve service. The current conditions do not have a direct link to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow disability, bladder disability, and pharyngitis due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board found no evidence of coronary artery disease in service or thereafter, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue regarding reopening his claim for osteoarthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine was not addressed as it is a separate matter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service and could not be presumed due to his military service. The Board also found no evidence supporting a secondary relationship between the Veteran's current low back disability and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was granted, with the effective date being June 26, 2003. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine conditions, and knee conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 20 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and deep peroneal nerve radiculopathy, or a separate rating of 10 percent for left shoulder strain.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person. The decision is based on his significant nonservice-connected disabilities, including blindness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right foot/ankle disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, are not service-connected as they were first diagnosed many years after military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was granted a 10 percent rating, but the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and a bilateral foot disability were denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the shoulder and osteoarthritis of the left ankle were not related to his service or any incident during active service.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis, multiple joints as the evidence did not show that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar strain, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and residuals of an injury to the left eye as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The appeal is remanded to obtain current treatment records from the Tulsa Institute of Pain and Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center.

The Board denied service connection for the residuals of an excision of osteochondroma, right tibia, as clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrated that the disability preexisted active duty and was not aggravated by service.