Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of his left ankle disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection for hepatitis C was not established, while the knee and eye disabilities received appropriate evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion with pain and productive functional loss, warrants a 10 percent rating from May 29, 2001.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claim of osteoarthritis being incurred in active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for varicose veins of the left leg and osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of the veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the right leg.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right buttock shell fragment wound residuals.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection were denied. The RO found that the right knee disability did not warrant a higher rating, and there was no evidence linking his cervical spine or left hip conditions to his service-connected right knee condition.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant an increased rating based on current evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury due to new and material evidence, but denied it on the merits as there is no causal link between his current left knee disorder and his military service.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, but denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine (secondary to left thigh disorder), rosacea, and blepharitis and trichiasis in both eyes. The claim for service connection for a left hip disorder was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and denied his claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's right knee instability due to degenerative arthritis has been rated at 10 percent since June 1, 2001.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left hip are not service-connected. However, his atherosclerotic heart disease to include hypertension is considered incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee instability does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, and his osteoarthritis of the left knee does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, left knee disability, psychiatric disability, chronic headaches, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and thoracic spine with disc protrusion at L5-S1 level and osteoporosis, costochondritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The initial evaluations were all 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for osteoarthritis of the hands and fingers, right foot, and neck due to lack of evidence during or after service.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his bilateral knee disabilities, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee instability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings.