Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine are at least as likely as not related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints to include the spine, shoulders, hips, ankles, and wrists, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected trapezitis of the left side of the back. The Board found that the veteran's arthritis was not present during service or for many years later and is not causally related to an incident of service or to his service-connected trapezitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, currently rated at 20 percent. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's left knee conditions, including a torn medial meniscus with possible anterior cruciate ligament tear and Osgood-Schlatter disease. The rating is now at 50% for limitation of extension and flexion from June 30, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty and there was no evidence of a diagnosis within one year after service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied all claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected low back strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, as well as his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder and acid reflux were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the cause of death, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis, was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have osteoarthritis of the knees or degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine that is related to service-connected disabilities. Therefore, his claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis is a result of his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was evaluated as 20 percent disabling since August 2, 1996.

The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of this rating. The veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disability did not render him unemployable.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left distal fibula fracture with degenerative arthritis, finding that his disability did not meet criteria warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee, status-post repair of torn medial meniscus.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to military service or to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's claim for an automotive allowance is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his service-connected left hip disability.

The Board has determined that the RO did not properly evaluate the appellant's disabilities and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for hypertension and service connection for osteoarthritis of the legs, as well as his claim for service connection for Guillain-Barre syndrome. The decision also noted that the veteran did not have arthritis in his lower extremities during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability warrants a 40 percent rating, effective December 17, 2002.