Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis with hallux valgus of both feet, and assigned a noncompensable evaluation effective September 29, 1992. The RO later increased the evaluations to 10 percent on July 1, 1996.

The Board has remanded this case for further development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the veteran's right ankle disability and left ankle disorder. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluation for the right ankle sprain with minimal osteoarthritis and service connection for a left ankle disorder secondary to the right ankle disability are also being addressed.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the veteran's right shoulder disability, effective from when the claim was filed. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disorder is remanded.

The veteran's service-connected traumatic degenerative arthritis, cervical spine and lumbosacral/dorsal spine with limitation of motion have been granted a higher evaluation from February 28, 1997.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right wrist, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated at the minimum level of disability, with no further increase in ratings granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The Board also found that a cervical spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, was incurred during active service.

The Board has restored the appellant's 10% disability rating for bronchitis from November 7, 1996. The issues of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and secondary service connection for left knee disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for arthritis in the hands, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and osteoarthritis of the lumbar and thoracic spine. The evaluations were found to be appropriate based on the current functional impairment.

The Board denied increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and plantar fasciitis with a calcaneal spur of the left foot, as both conditions are rated at their maximum compensable levels.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion and pain, warrants a rating of 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003-5261.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, status post decompressive laminectomy, warrants a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine, as well as left elbow, is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and osteoarthritis of the knees. The claim for hemorrhagic fever was reopened but not granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for spinal arthritis and granted service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the presumption applies due to his status as a former POW.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder, but denied service connection for asthma. The veteran's current hearing loss is considered to be related to noise exposure during military service. For the low back disorder, the Board found that there was no clear evidence of injury in service, but accepted the veteran's account of an injury and granted service connection based on a finding of equipoise.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's post-operative right knee condition, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of dengue fever and a right ankle disorder due to lack of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, which includes a stress fracture of the left sacrum and grade I spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis on the right sacroiliac joint, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.