Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, recurrent cardiac dysrhythmias due to ischemic heart disease and coronary heart disease, was not related to his military service or any of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran seeks service connection for his left knee disability, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an informed medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's left knee disorder and his service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left hip and right hip disabilities have been denied. The lumbar spine disability has been granted a 20 percent rating from May to December 2006, but no greater.,There is no evidence of involvement of two or more major joints or minor joint groups with occasional incapacitating exacerbations in the veteran's left and right hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis and polyarthritis have been granted. The conditions were found to be related to service without any specific exposure basis or presumption.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination of the veteran's left knee disability in order to assess its current severity.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right acromioclavicular joint is related to an injury sustained in service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence of such disability in service or within one year post-service and concluding that it is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for minimal osteoarthritis, right knee with stress fracture and assigned initial ratings of 10 percent prior to April 4, 2005 and 20 percent as of that date.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left shoulder disability, which is currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence showed that the veteran had limited motion in the shoulder but no significant weakness or other functional limitations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed hypertensive vascular disease and degenerative arthritis are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for scalp lesions, allergies, prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral ankle arthritis are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is granted for scalp lesions (including folliculitis decalvans, lichen planopilaris, and scarring alopecia).

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis of the spine, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for his right elbow osteoarthritis, which was initially rated in March 2003.

The Board has determined that the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder contributed substantially to the veteran's death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, effective March 15, 2004. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder disability was rated as noncompensable prior to December 16, 2005, and at 20 percent thereafter. Sleep apnea remains at a 50 percent rating. Service connection for the neck condition and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and chronic lumbar strain, both found to be secondary to service-connected disabilities of the knees.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting examinations to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from VA facilities. The specific issues of increased evaluations for his right knee conditions are not addressed as service connection theory, exposure basis, or rating assignment are unknown.