Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and service, and denied both claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees have been previously denied. The RO is instructed to send a VCAA notice letter correcting the previous denials, as well as obtain SSA records related to his disability benefits claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including cholelithiasis with cholescystectomy, nephrolithiasis and hyperuricemia, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The medical evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, elbow and arm as secondary to his service-connected residuals of injury to the right hand.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The claim for initial compensable evaluations for hypertension and osteoarthritis of the left knee is pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, are rated at a combined 50 percent. The Board has granted a total disability evaluation on the basis of individual unemployability due to these service-connected conditions.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for increased ratings of his right and left knee disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of punji stick injury to the left knee was denied, but his claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee was granted with a 10 percent rating effective from January 15, 2006.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of tinnitus which was assigned a 10% evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for additional vocational rehabilitation services and employment assistance due to a lack of an employment handicap, despite his service-connected disabilities. The veteran is currently employed but contends that he cannot secure suitable employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic lumbar strain, dysthymia, and bilateral foot disabilities were denied. The RO continued the denials of these claims in a May 2005 rating decision.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by herniated nucleus pulposus and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine due to or aggravated by military service, nor may service connection for a chronic disorder be presumed.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with bulging disc at L4-5 and scoliosis is being remanded due to inadequate notice, need for additional VA examination, and potential need for additional treatment records.

The VA denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's degenerative arthritis and disc disease, residuals of a low back injury. The evidence prior to September 23, 2002 did not show IVDS criteria in excess of 20 percent, and since then it has not shown incapacitating episodes or forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine were denied as his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for left knee instability and arthritis since February 24, 2005. The veteran's disability was not shown to meet the criteria for higher ratings under other diagnostic codes.