Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to additional development being required.

The Board denied an increased rating for dorsal spine osteoarthritis and residuals of poliomyelitis, finding that the veteran's disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis, finding no medical evidence of arthritis during or within one year of service and ruling out a current diagnosis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The veteran's active service records do not show any injury or illness that could have led to the development of this condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable rating for his hearing loss, back injury, left knee disability, and right knee disability are being remanded for additional development.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for frostbite residuals of the right hand, nose, forehead and left ear was denied. The RO found that the current evaluations adequately reflected the severity of his disability.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations for pes planus of both feet and service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral knee disability have been denied.,Service connection was not established for the low back disorder or bilateral knee disability as secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including low back pain and bilateral knee disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back and shoulder disabilities did not begin during service or within one year of his discharge from service, and are therefore not considered to be related to active service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for carpal degenerative arthritis, scaphocapitosemilunar, right (major) wrist.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have degenerative arthritis of the fingers, shoulders, wrists, legs, ankles, feet, low back, or neck that is attributable to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for cervical spine disability, as well as his service connection claims for thoracic spine disorder, nerve damage to both lower extremities, pes planus, plantar warts of the feet with callous formation and residual scars, and bilateral hip disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities or new and material evidence to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting causes of death and need for a medical opinion on the relationship between the veteran's osteoarthritis and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine did not have its onset or increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint impairment, finding that the veteran's hypermobility syndrome with soft tissue rheumatism did not constitute a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee was incurred or aggravated in his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the appellant's current lumbosacral spine, hip, and cervical spine disorders are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and right hand osteoarthritis.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain, swelling, and limited range of motion, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 20 percent rating.