Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection due to a lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple issues, including his psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, right knee disorder, left knee arthritis, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, lung disease (asbestosis), and hypertension. The Board found that new evidence did not reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied all other claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chondromalacia of the left and right knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and further investigation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for most conditions.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and sciatica was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to July 28, 2004, or beginning July 28, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an increased disability rating for his service-connected skin disabilities, as they do not meet the criteria under either the old or new VA rating schedules.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's right and left ankle disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected right total knee arthroplasty and left knee osteoarthritis are currently manifested by limited range of motion, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The veteran is also unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to further development being required, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a hearing. The claim for service connection will be reconsidered in light of new guidelines.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a right hip disorder, finding that there is no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee Pellegrini-Stieda disease.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on their current symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disorders, including a meniscal tear and mild patellar osteoarthritis, are not etiologically related to service or a service-connected left knee disability. The record does not support a presumption of arthritis due to in-service exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee, cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, effective from September 8, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cluster headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, and his TDIU claim is denied as he does not have unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent effective from June 1, 1996.

The Board denied service connection for medial meniscectomy of the right knee and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.