Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied.,Service connection for right hip osteoarthritis has also been denied.

The veteran's total right knee replacement was determined to be related to his service-connected right knee Osgood Schlatter's disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left knee medial meniscus tear, which is secondary to his service-connected left tibia/fibula fracture. However, secondary service connection was not established for his right knee disorder and degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spines.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board found that the appellant's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, including symptoms related to a previous meniscectomy and degenerative arthritis, warrants a 10 percent rating. The current range of motion is limited with pain but not additional limitation due to repetitive motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his service-connected sarcoidosis. Therefore, the claim for service connection for osteoarthritis has been denied.

The veteran's initial compensable rating for left quadriceps muscle injury, post-operative residual of a left anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with medial meniscus tear, was granted. Separate ratings were assigned for degenerative osteoarthritis and instability of the left knee, both at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an effective date of November 19, 1996 for service connection of right knee arthritis and a 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome as of March 19, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with chronic lumbar strain, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5292 and 5295.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to establish service connection for a back disability, also claimed as degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain. As such, the Board dismisses this matter.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and left hip osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records.

The veteran's appeal is about whether his current evaluation for degenerative osteoarthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine should be higher than the currently assigned 20 percent. The VA has ordered a new examination to assess the severity of the disability.

The veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings for residual scars, status post appendectomy, and bilateral macula retinal drusen have been withdrawn. The case is now ready for appellate review.

The veteran's knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each, and the scar of the left inner thigh is also rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased evaluations have been granted.

The Board found that the claimed degenerative osteoarthritis with neuritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not attributable to service. Osteoarthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unfit for employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of chloracne, hypertension, residuals of a stroke, osteoarthritis, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) related to his military service. As such, the claims for these conditions are denied.