Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including notifying the veteran of the VCAA and scheduling an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and severity of his thoracic spine disability and to determine the etiology of his other spine disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, fibrocystic breast disease, chronic residuals of right inguinal and umbilical hernia repairs, and a sigmoid colon disability, are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The examiner opined that these conditions are unrelated to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted, with the TDIU effective from May 18, 2004. The rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder and arm was maintained at 20 percent, while the rating for dysesthesia of the right arm and forearm was increased to 20 percent as of February 5, 2003.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of the claim as it is no longer in a pending state.

The Board finds that the veteran's cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension, is presumed to have been incurred in service. The other conditions (osteoarthritis, poor vision, and deafness) are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current left hip disability and service, including manifestations to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia, right knee, does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The claim for an increased rating for arthritis and limited motion of the left knee is also denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee and consideration of extraschedular evaluation due to employment impact.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, and he has other service-connected conditions. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his right knee condition or a TDIU based on his overall disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a left ankle injury or disability during service, and the current left ankle disorder is not related to military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the right foot. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle sprains with causalgia involving the peroneal nerve do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral knee and right hip disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, and the right knee DJD is not service-connected. The carpal tunnel syndrome of the right arm remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left clavicle fracture and second/third metacarpal bone fractures, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a copy of the notice letter regarding overpayment and referring the matter to the RO's Committee on Waivers and Compromises.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the dorsal and lumbosacral spine due to new evidence. However, service connection is not granted as there is no direct or secondary link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have osteoarthritis that is attributable to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.