Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing degenerative arthritis of the left hip was aggravated by his military service, warranting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claim for a right knee disorder due to the need for additional development of evidence, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition as secondary to right shoulder tendonitis and also denied his request for a higher combined rating, finding that there was no evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his GERD with erosive gastritis and esophagitis/Barrett's esophagus, are service-connected.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine strain, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and tension headaches are not rated higher than the current levels of disability. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be unrelated to service.

The Board has restored the veteran's initial rating of 20 percent for his status post medial meniscectomy of the left knee, effective December 1, 2007. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disability, which is manifested by forward flexion to 55 and 90 degrees without any ankylosis, does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple joint arthritis is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for cold injury residuals remains pending as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including asbestosis, hypertension, renal failure, irritable bowel syndrome, coronary artery disease, arthritis of the hands, and headaches. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of cold injuries to his hands or feet attributable to service, and therefore denied both issues.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, effective July 3, 1996. The initial rating prior to that date was found not to meet the criteria for compensation.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his right ankle disability warranted a 20% rating. Service connection was also established for degenerative arthritis of the right hip as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, but not for a right knee disability.

The veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and left knee. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records, including a missing report from Dr. Thompson.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for sexual dysfunction and renal stent placement.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating of his left knee disability was denied. The RO confirmed and continued the previous denial of service connection for chloracne due to herbicides exposure, but did not address the issue of reopening the previously denied claim for service connection for chloracne due to herbicides exposure.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee is remanded due to insufficient examination and lack of interval change in symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, status post arthroscopic repair, is not related to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding no current disability or evidence of a nexus to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee condition is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected total left knee anthroplasty, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.