Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder, which is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis and did not grant increased ratings for the right knee disorder or low back disorder.

The veteran's initial claim for PTSD was granted, and he is currently receiving a 50% evaluation. The Board found no evidence linking his bilateral knee and elbow disorders or coronary artery disease to service. His PTSD has been rated based on the severity of symptoms such as depression, impaired memory, difficulty in concentration, and social relationships.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. Service connection has been established for neck disability, back disability, bilateral knee and leg disabilities, pes planus, and hearing loss. Increased ratings have been assigned for hypertension and skin disorders.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a back disorder, but the claim remains not well grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to an inservice injury.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. However, he does not meet the criteria for housebound benefits due to a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the criteria of having a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent together with separate service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent, nor is his permanent housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, which included pain and instability but no ankylosis or significant functional loss, did not warrant a higher rating. The issues of service connection for shoulder, right knee, and bilateral hip disabilities were also denied as there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not file an adequate substantive appeal regarding his claims for service connection and nonservice-connected pension purposes. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease. The claim is well-grounded as there is competent medical evidence showing a current disability, an inservice injury or disease, and a link between the two.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, which is in excess of the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder tenosynovitis and left knee degenerative arthritis, effective from September 1, 1992.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability, currently rated at 30 percent, does not warrant an increased rating due to lack of evidence showing subluxation, instability, crepitation, excess fatigability, swelling, or atrophy.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left knee disorder, currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the veteran's symptoms and limitations.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as his psoriasis, to his period of active service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found that the veteran had not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disorder, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability was granted, and the effective date of his award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is set at November 19, 1989.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a left knee fracture are now rated at 20 percent, reflecting moderate impairment with painful motion and limited flexion.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing bursitis of the right toe or degenerative arthritis of the feet. However, allergic rhinitis was demonstrated during service and is presumed to have been incurred then.