Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disability and degenerative arthritis, attributing these conditions to Agent Orange exposure during his military service. The VA found no evidence of such disabilities in service or any direct link between them and his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the veteran for an orthopedic examination to assess his bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, diagnosed as advanced degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The evidence now shows that his current condition is likely related to his inservice injuries.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability was granted, with separate evaluations of 40 percent and 20 percent assigned for orthopedic and neurologic manifestations respectively from September 23, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including a chronic upper back disorder and right shoulder disability, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and readjudication, including scheduling a hearing for the veteran and ensuring compliance with VCAA notification requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and a lumbar condition, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic depression that is aggravated by his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee.

The VA determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to his inability to perform basic activities of daily living without assistance.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a left knee disability, finding that the current conditions are not related to any in-service injury or condition.

The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and PTSD were granted, with the right hand rated at 50% disabling, left hand at 20%, and PTSD at 30%. A TDIU was granted effective March 4, 1999. The decision also addressed higher ratings for his hands.

The case is being remanded to the RO for DRO review and scheduling of a hearing before a DRO. The appellant's request for a personal hearing at his request should be addressed.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, effective from the date of the initial grant of service connection. The claim for increased evaluation for left knee instability remains denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected knee disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and an increased evaluation for osteoarthritis of the left great toe. The veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed skin disorder, as there is no evidence linking it to service. For the left great toe condition, the RO must issue a statement of the case regarding the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a vocational evaluation to determine if the veteran can secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, is not related to active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back sprain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied by operation of law due to failure to report for VA medical examinations.