Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal as the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was barred due to the finality of a prior decision granting service connection and assigning an effective date of January 22, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected multiple joint osteoarthritis does not result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring regular and constant use of a wheelchair, walker, braces, crutches, or canes as a normal mode of locomotion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his increased disability ratings for service-connected bilateral knee disorders.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis are being remanded to allow for additional development of the medical records and for a new VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during service or for over 30 years after separation. The veteran's current low back degenerative arthritis is not related to his active duty service and is not secondary to hepatitis C, which is also not service-connected.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are not attributable to his active military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, assigning a 20 percent rating each.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with the highest rating of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a 20 percent rating effective from September 26, 2003, for degenerative arthritis in the cervical and thoracic spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, bilateral calluses on the soles of the feet with pes planus, and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left and right elbows, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's elbow conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the appellant's need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed degenerative arthritis in his low back was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar scoliosis with lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent from March 25, 2001 to August 28, 2006 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent from August 29, 2006.

The veteran's dementia, caused by a brain injury sustained in service, contributed to his death. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for rheumatoid arthritis, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee gonarthrosis based on limited/painful flexion and extension, or an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hand osteoarthritis.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for left knee gonarthrosis based on limited/painful flexion and extension, or an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right scaphoid, trapezium, and trapezoid arthritis.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for left scaphoid, trapezium, and trapezoid arthritis or an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for right foot hallux valgus, or an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left foot hallux valgus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current thoracic spine disabilities, including osteoporosis, lumbago, and osteoarthritis, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to failure in providing effective VCAA notice.