Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for osteoarthritis and an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to military service or already service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The veteran has withdrawn all issues currently on appeal, including the requests for increased evaluations and a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and a back disorder, finding that his claim was not well-grounded. The right knee disability claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability warrants a 60 percent rating, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5293 for severe intervertebral disc syndrome with recurring attacks.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left subtalar joint degenerative arthritis, status post fusion and status post left calcaneal fracture.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of postoperative Osgood-Schlatter Disease of the left knee, effective from July 7, 1995. The temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following surgery is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim is well grounded and remands the case for further development to determine if his right foot condition is related to his service-connected knee disability.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left femur disorder and found that a separate 10 percent rating was warranted for arthritis of the left femur. The initial 10 percent evaluation assigned for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his osteoarthritis and the stress related to them, substantially contributed to his cause of death from myocardial infarction. The Board finds that service connection for the cause of death is warranted.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence not considered by the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was not addressed, while the claims for increased ratings were both denied.

The veteran's anxiety neurosis is rated at 50 percent, his bronchitis remains at 0 percent, and his sinusitis is rated at 10 percent from October 1994 to October 1996. The veteran's total rating based on individual unemployability claim was denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, postoperative repair of the meniscus and ligament of the right knee, and advanced degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The veteran's claims were not granted as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with wedging of C5, effective from March 1998. The veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 8045.