Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia and osteoarthritis with limited and painful motion, as well as his initial rating for instability and locking. The effective date claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left middle finger with degenerative arthritis do not warrant an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation from March 19, 1997 to October 14, 2004 and an increased evaluation from October 15, 2004. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5224.

The VA determined that the veteran's neck condition is not related to his military service, either directly or secondarily due to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability and right knee strain are not related to his military service, and thus denied these claims.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 90%, meeting the minimum schedular criteria for TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as he can perform the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board finds that the veteran's left knee disability is not related to his military service or his service-connected right knee disability, and thus denies the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the appellant's current mechanical low back pain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The injury occurred during a weekend drill, but there is no evidence linking it to his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disability is service-connected, as it is linked to his military service and documented in the medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension with coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft times four, was not incurred or aggravated during active service and its incurrence or aggravation during service may not be presumed. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA joints examination, and readjudicating the increased rating claims on appeal.

The veteran's right shoulder disability, which included recurrent subluxation and osteoarthritis, was rated at 100% effective July 5, 2005 due to the partial prosthetic replacement surgery.

The Board has determined that osteochondritis dissecans of the left hip was incurred in active duty and granted service connection for this condition. The issue regarding osteoarthritis and dysplasia of the left hip is addressed separately.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with chronic low back pain and sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to the low back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperhidrosis, or residuals of cold injuries to either lower extremity.

The veteran's claims for service connection on a secondary basis were denied, while his skin disability claim was granted. The veteran received staged ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a grant for his tender scar related to gunshot wounds. His right and left sciatic neuritis claims were both denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his L5/S1 osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as cervical spine osteoarthritis. The RO will schedule a VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board has found no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claim of osteoarthritis of the hips, wrists, and right knee. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and residuals of a chronic lumbar strain, as well as his claim for an increased rating for coccygodynia. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide further development.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant or his representative has withdrawn it.