Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The veteran also has been granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability.,The VA examination report indicates that the veteran's current bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities are more likely than not attributable to his in-service activities, including strenuous physical activity during training and combat.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of newly submitted evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of hyperthyroidism status post partial thyroidectomy was denied. The claims for service connection for lumbar scoliosis with degenerative arthritis and osteoporosis were both reopened due to new evidence, but the direct service connection theories were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date earlier than May 18, 2004 for TDIU. The RO assigned TDIU on a schedular basis as of May 18, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for a dental condition as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM). The remaining claims are remanded for further action.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU. His degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine does not warrant a higher initial rating.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an increased evaluation of his low back strain with osteoarthritis, currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right hip disability, but finds that it is not related to the veteran's service-connected left leg condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected ligamentous laxity of the left knee and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the schedular criteria were not met.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and cervical spine disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to grant service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current disabilities to his military service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings of 30 percent for service-connected osteoarthritis of the right hip and left hip, each rated at 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining sedentary employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disorder. The RO should consider whether separate ratings are warranted for each component of the condition.

The VA granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective from December 14, 2005.

The veteran's right hip disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling due to limitation of flexion, abduction, and extension. The knee disabilities are not separately evaluated as they do not meet the criteria for separate ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 (limitation of flexion) and 5261 (limitation of extension).

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the left femur with mild atrophy and knee disability, other than degenerative arthritis of the left knee was denied as his condition did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability did not have its onset during service and is not related to any in-service disease or injury. The Board also found that his left knee disability was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right wrist limitation of motion, left wrist limitation of motion, and residuals of a left elbow fracture with post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The current ratings are 10 percent each.