Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU are denied. The RO must review these claims again after considering the additional evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for osteoarthritis of the hands with associated Heberden's nodes as a result of exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 19, 2001 for the award of a 100% disability rating for PTSD. The claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine was also granted.

The veteran's service-connected gout with seronegative polyarthritis is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to lack of constitutional manifestations or severe impairment.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, finding that no request to reopen the claim was filed before May 15, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for chondromalacia of both knees, finding that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for postoperative residuals of a right knee injury effective June 21, 1992 and a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee effective June 21, 1992. The veteran's claim for an increased rating on an extraschedular basis has not been met.

The Board granted a 60% rating for postoperative residuals of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 with radiculopathy and a separate 10% rating for degenerative arthritis. The veteran's service-connected midline surgical scar over the lumbar spine was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence does not show any participation in a radiation-risk activity or exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding no new evidence to support these claims. The veteran's claim was not reopened.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both knees was denied. The claim for increased rating for major depressive disorder was partially granted, with a 50% rating effective from June 8, 1998.

The Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for PTSD to the RO, while maintaining the current 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability, which resulted from a VA procedure in July 1987, caused additional disabilities of his right leg, foot, and left upper leg. The decision grants compensation for these disabilities.

The veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are rated based on their specific conditions, with the right knee receiving a separate rating for arthritis. The low back disability is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and laryngeal cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of left ankle injuries and secondary service connection for a right ankle disorder, including arthritis, as being related to the left ankle disability.

The VA denied increased evaluations for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development at the RO level.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability. The RO must ensure that all notification and development action required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is completed, including reviewing the claims file to ensure compliance with the new law.