Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's low back disability effective from May 16, 2001. The RO also granted a 60 percent disability rating for the same condition starting July 10, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected low back syndrome with degenerative arthritis and left knee disability, finding that a higher evaluation than 20 percent was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of his degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that there is no evidence linking this condition to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for osteoarthritis, which he claims was caused by his combat service. The case has been remanded to obtain a medical opinion on the etiology of the condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and Madelung's disease, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and thoracic spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions warranted higher disability evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow injury and an increased rating for recurrent corneal erosions, herpes simplex stromal scarring, and left eye keratitis. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between any current disabilities and active service.

The veteran's asthma and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining the VA examination report from January 2003 and arranging for a new VA examination to assess his current disability levels.

The Board has restored service connection for peripheral neuropathy, which was previously severed due to the veteran's diabetes mellitus. The issues of increased evaluations for knee disabilities and hearing loss remain pending.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability, manifested by recurrent dislocation and degenerative arthritis, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and residuals of lumbar spine surgery, herniated disc L4-5 as secondary to osteoarthritis of the left knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently manifested by painful range of motion, moderate medial instability, arthritis and a mild antalgic limp. The Board has granted service connection for the right knee disability and assigned an initial 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for essential hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the hands and cervical spine, finding that there was no causal link to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted a separate compensable rating for arthritis of the right knee, effective January 8, 2001. The veteran's combined disability evaluation for his right knee instability and arthritis is now 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for further development due to procedural deficiencies and need for additional medical opinions.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his left knee DJD is also rated at 10 percent. The RO granted service connection for both conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities were granted, with a 20 percent evaluation assigned for each knee. The claim for service connection for actinic keratoses (claimed as skin cancer) was also granted and reopened on the basis of new evidence.