Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's combined disability rating for his left knee conditions (residuals of a left knee injury and degenerative arthritis) is currently at 30 percent. He seeks an increased rating, but the current ratings are considered appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The case is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding the veteran's ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and remanded it for further development.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 10 percent for the service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg with involvement of Muscle Group XI.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition and concluding that any current cervical spine disorder is not related to service.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spines, currently rated at 40 percent disabling, is granted with a specific rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees, ankles, and hands was denied. His claim for an increased rating for residuals of undulant fever with arthritis in the knees, ankles, and left wrist was also denied.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased rating for chondromalacia of the left knee and the initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis and medial joint space narrowing of the right knee. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee strain and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands and right knee is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 24, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for his shrapnel fragment wound of the neck, finding no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability is causally related to his in-service injury, and granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with a compression injury of T-12.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with secondary degenerative arthritis, thoracic spine degenerative arthritis, right ankle fracture and chronic synovitis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected residuals of fractured right wrist and left pubis rami, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the presence of neurological manifestations due to his cervical spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the veteran's bilateral great toe disorders and their impact on his overall foot function.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The veteran's spine disabilities are remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis as there was no evidence of arthritis during or within one year after service, and the appellant did not have prisoner-of-war status.

The November 21, 1972 rating decision granted service connection for minimal osteoarthritis of both knees and denied service connection for the postoperative residuals of a left knee meniscectomy. The veteran's appeal is mixed as some issues were granted (service connection for arthritis) while others were not (denial of residuals from surgery).