Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's cervical spine condition is not service connected.,His mood and dysthymic disorders are not service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis and instability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the veteran did not incur or aggravate a back disability during service and there is no evidence of arthritis within one year of her service separation. Therefore, service connection for a back disability is denied.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and right hip disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The RO found that the veteran's subjective complaints of pain and functional limitations do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on objective clinical findings.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his combined total disability rating is 40 percent. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of individual unemployability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression and skin disabilities, were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or for many years after service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for gouty arthritis of multiple joints, currently rated at 40 percent. The evidence did not show significant functional impairment due to the condition.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, effective from May 2004. The veteran's claim was previously denied in November 2004 due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and left knee, but denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to re-open the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis, which had previously been denied in June 1993. The veteran's submission of additional VA outpatient reports and examination records did not meet the criteria for being considered 'new and material' evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of his hip and knee disabilities, finding that the earliest date was July 10, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left shoulder arthritis is related to repetitive microtraumas sustained during parachute jumps in service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the loss or loss of use of any extremity or blindness in both eyes, thus failing to meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The veteran's left ankle disorder is not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a headache disorder related to service or service-connected conditions.,No eating disorder has been diagnosed.,Polyarthritis and polyarthralgia are not shown in the record.,An eye disorder was not found during the review.,Epididymitis is secondary to prostatitis but considered separate for compensation purposes.,Memory loss and sleep impairment are manifestations of dysthymic disorder, with no separately ratable conditions identified.,No effective date earlier than July 25, 1996 can be assigned for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and memory loss).,No effective date earlier than July 25, 1996 can be assigned for the grant of service connection for a left hip disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and residuals of osteomyelitis of the right femur, finding no evidence of a medical nexus between any current disabilities and his period of active service.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 40% from July 1, 2003 to May 26, 2006 and from August 1, 2006. The left shoulder disorder was rated at 10% from July 1, 2003 to July 6, 2003.,The veteran's cervical strain with arthritis and low back strain were both rated at 20%. There is no rating assigned for the right foot arthralgia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left ankle fracture and a TDIU based on service-connected disability. The veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture resulted in fusion of the left ankle joint, with no neurological or circulatory impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and neuropathy due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.