Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a Travel Board hearing. The veteran's claims of service connection and reopening of his right knee condition claim are pending.

The veteran's left knee disability, post-operative ACL repair, is manifested by moderate lateral instability and osteoarthritis due to trauma. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for instability or any higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for left knee instability and a separate rating of 20 percent for dislocated cartilage with locking and effusion in the left knee. The initial rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking the current disability to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current osteoarthritis of multiple joints, including shoulders, right knee, lumbar spine, and hands, is related to his active military service. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 20 percent for the veteran's limitation of motion in his right knee, effective from February 8, 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for an updated VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The appeal was denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or ankylosis warranting higher ratings.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability in service or within one year post-service, and the VA examination did not establish a link between the veteran's current right knee condition and his service-connected left knee and back conditions. Therefore, the claim for direct service connection was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound of the left leg with healed compound, comminuted fracture is being remanded due to incomplete development and potential entitlement to additional benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected left knee disability and also denied his claim for service connection of a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right and left knee disabilities do not warrant increased ratings based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the right elbow, right ankle and both knees with hypermobile joint syndrome was granted. The current disability is rated at 20 percent.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 21, 2006. The medical evidence supports the finding that he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the periods specified.

The Board found no evidence of a direct link between the veteran's service and his current bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, thus denying his claim.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee in February 1977, finding that it pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. The veteran is now seeking to have this decision revised due to alleged clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and S1 joint osteoarthritis with range of motion limitation and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that a higher evaluation was not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine was not incurred in or related to his military service, and thus denied the claim.