Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with a VA examination to assess his right knee and left hand disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent schedular rating for instability of the right knee, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5257. The veteran's claim for an extra-schedular rating and increased rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee is being referred to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and a herniated nucleus pulposus at L3-L4. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for anxiety state is also being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral shoulders and a cervical spine disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen previously denied claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded due to procedural defects in notification and development of evidence.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left knee is mixed. Prior to March 26, 1998, he was granted a higher rating based on limitation of flexion and pain. As of May 1, 1999, his total knee replacement resulted in some limitation of motion but no severe painful motion or weakness.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative osteoarthritis of the right hand is being remanded due to need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the initial disability ratings assigned for various conditions were also denied. The appeals are not granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar disc disease with degenerative arthritis is not related to his service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative arthritis is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection for chronic low back pain with sciatica to the right leg, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right hip is not warranted as there is no competent medical evidence establishing current disabilities.

The veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spondylosis with multilevel osteoarthritis and discogenic disease, which he claims was caused by a neck injury during military service. The case has been remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no competent medical evidence indicating that his current left knee condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.