Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and history of meniscectomy of the left knee with instability were denied due to a lack of evidence supporting his appeal, as he failed to report for scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The veteran's PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling, while the rating for DDD with osteoarthritis and mechanical low back pain remained at 10 percent.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the issues, including an earlier effective date for service connection and a secondary service connection claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, as there was no medical evidence or competent opinion linking a cardiovascular disease to any incident of service and no evidence that diabetes played a causative role in his death.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative changes of the right hip as secondary to the veteran's service-connected low back disability and residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and fibula, extending the benefit of the doubt to the veteran.

The veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee was granted as of February 7, 2007. Service connection for left hip pain was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his service-connected scar of the right index finger and that there was no basis to increase the 10 percent ratings for osteoarthritis in the knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right elbow, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of his conditions.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed the appeal regarding an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for para-thyroid gland abnormality with hypocalcaemia and nephrolithiasis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as they were not shown to be related to the veteran's period of active duty.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability is not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months, and therefore, an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.

The appeal of the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 13, 2003 for additional compensation for a dependent child based on school attendance was denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spondylosis, bone spurs, and osteoarthritis of the left hip were not related to his service.

The veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and patellofemoral pain of the left knee were denied as there was no evidence to support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of the cost of private medical care was denied because VA facilities were reasonably available and prior authorization was not obtained.

The appeal was remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's left knee condition.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The case is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and review of the veteran's medical records.