Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's low back disorder, which includes osteoarthritis and pain, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or a result of his service-connected conditions, and thus denied both the cause of death claim and the DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 claim.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability, including alleged exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 30 percent for the service-connected post-traumatic patellofemoral osteoarthritis of the left knee, and 40 percent for the right knee, both effective from April 2007.

The Board found no evidence of a lumbar spine disorder during service or within one year after service, and the competent medical evidence against a link between the veteran's current lumbar spine disorders and his military service outweighs any supporting evidence. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee postoperative residuals and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or additional limitation of motion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right foot and ankle, finding that there is no evidence linking his current disability to his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, to include as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the right femur, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of his shoulder condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and denied a claim for an increased rating for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for bilateral ankle osteoarthritis and denied an increase rating for prostatitis. The veteran's claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's initial service-connected gastritis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy of the left leg were not found to warrant higher ratings. The seizure disorder was also denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and is requesting further action on his appeal regarding a March 2006 rating decision assigning an initial compensable disability evaluation for his nasal bridge, right medial cheek, and right nasolabial fold scar.

The veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring necessary special home adaptations as he already has the required rating and does not meet other eligibility criteria.

The Board granted service connection for a right posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear with osteoarthritis and assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation, effective July 12, 2002. The veteran's knee has been manifested by flexion limited to no less than 45 degrees and extension limited to no less than 0 degrees.

The veteran's lumbar spine laminectomy with fusion is rated at 10 percent, and he has a separate rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy. His left hip osteoarthritis and early degenerative arthritis of the right knee are each rated at 10 percent. Bilateral cataracts with dry eye syndrome and punctuate keratitis are rated at 0 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to his active service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support presumptive service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a neurological examination to determine if there are separate ratable neurological manifestations associated with the veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The VA granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective January 18, 2005.,The VA denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied service connection for right heel spur, left heel spur, and right knee disorder (osteoarthritis) as the evidence did not show a relationship to active duty or National Guard service.