Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability was granted, and he is now receiving a 40 percent evaluation. The claims of entitlement to service connection for prostatitis and nonservice-connected disability pension benefits were denied. His application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for prostatitis has been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, anxiety disorder, stomach disorder, and foot injury residuals. The reasons were that there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or event leading to PTSD, and the other conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his post-operative residuals of shoulder dislocations, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent. The claims for increased ratings for the gunshot wounds to the left chest and shoulder were denied. Service connection for a stomach disability other than abdominal cramping due to volvulus of the colon was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tendonitis of the right knee and degenerative arthritis of the right knee was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, including osteoarthritis with medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament tears, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of both knees and granted it, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue of whether the veteran's current arthritis is related to his service-connected disability remains pending.

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder. The Board also determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip and knee osteoarthritis, concluding that the veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The veteran's meralgia paresthetica affecting the right hip and thigh regions was found to have originated during service, resulting in a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disorder warrants a 30 percent rating, which is higher than the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for defective vision (claimed as total blindness). The claims for service connection for nervousness, sleeplessness and body weakness, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and osteoarthritis have all been denied.

The Board found that the appellant's right knee injury was not incurred or aggravated during military service and denied his claim.

The Board finds that the appellant's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by chronic ligament tear and degenerative arthritis, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the appellant's left knee disability, which includes traumatic degenerative osteoarthritis and chondromalacia, as well as residuals from a partial medial and lateral meniscectomy with debridement. The current rating is in line with the severity of symptoms reported by the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for left leg and knee disability, including residuals of a quadriceps tendon injury and degenerative arthritis, on both direct and secondary bases. The veteran's current symptoms are attributed to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities do not warrant increased ratings under the applicable rating criteria.