Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 22, 1999 for a 20% disability evaluation for his post-operative recurrent right (major) shoulder dislocation residuals and degenerative arthritis. The appeal was based on the theory of direct service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the hips was aggravated by his active duty for training, and grants service connection for this condition. However, the labral tears in the hips are not shown to have been due to injury or disease incurred during service.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized as residuals of a right knee injury with meniscectomy and ligament laxity, has been rated at 20% since July 1, 1999. The rating was increased to 30% effective February 8, 2005 for degenerative arthritis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation which is sedentary in nature. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased rating and service connection. The RO confirmed the current 40% rating for his right knee disorder, but denied service connection for cervical strain and multiple other conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was previously denied and not reopened. The Board found that his current back condition did not manifest during or within one year after service, and is not related to his service. His skin disorder claim remains pending as VA records are still being sought.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were denied. The left shoulder arthritis is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating, while the left elbow osteoarthritis warrants a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disorder, back disorder, and right leg disorder are all service-connected. The VA examinations have provided diagnoses for these conditions, with some uncertainty regarding their exact etiology.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for minimal bicompartmental osteoarthritis and medial meniscus degeneration of the left knee, but denied an increased rating for the veteran's overall left knee disability due to lack of evidence showing limitation of motion to 60 degrees or extension to 5 degrees.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's residuals of a right ankle sprain, postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of the right knee are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder. The claim for a right shoulder disorder is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his service connection claim for a back disability, finding that the new evidence submitted did not establish a relationship between current back disability and service.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of instability or limitation of motion that would support higher ratings. The plantar warts disability also does not meet criteria for a separate rating.

The veteran's post-traumatic osteoarthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's Disease, hyperlipidemia, and PTSD as they were not incurred or aggravated in service.

The veteran's cervical spine disability and dermatitis were not found to warrant increased evaluations, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected right ankle disability and grants this claim.