Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on a finding that he is permanently housebound, as there was no evidence showing he needed constant help with daily needs such as bathing, dressing, or eating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the veteran's ankle disabilities and determine their etiology.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a combined rating of more than 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disorders have been granted, with the effective date of November 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for ligamentous laxity and degenerative arthritis of his left knee, finding that the evidence does not support higher ratings under any applicable criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected low back disability was denied, and the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various conditions, including his lumbar spine and shoulder disabilities, have not been met under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board finds that the veteran's current low back disability, manifested by disc disease and arthritis, is likely due to his in-service injury. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not due to disease or injury in service and denied his claim for service connection. The rating for his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right knee, including scars, foreign bodies, and Osgood-Schlatter's disease, was upheld at 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his right shoulder and low back disabilities are denied as the effective dates assigned are considered the earliest possible under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right thumb disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim. The Board also found that the veteran's service-connected right little finger disability warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.

The veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the feet, hands, right elbow, ankles, and left great toe were denied. The RO also addressed other issues such as increased evaluations for shoulder conditions, a claim to reopen for knee condition (claimed as osteoarthritis), an effective date for right shoulder condition, and TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for his right and left ankle disabilities, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD and insufficient evidence linking the current disabilities to service. The veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee and denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of multiple joints, including his shoulders and knees, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examination did not show any chronic residual disability from these injuries at separation. The most probative medical evidence does not support a connection to military service. Additionally, there is no evidence showing that the arthritis is proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected left ankle disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee conditions have been denied. The RO assigned separate evaluations for the right and left knees, but did not grant higher ratings than those currently in effect.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected recurrent dislocation right shoulder status postoperative repair of right shoulder (dominant), effective from January 31, 2002.