Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2004

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right great toe and right knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, which he claimed as aching joints, and for a compensable disability rating for residuals of rheumatic fever. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his in-service rheumatic fever.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the old criteria. The current rating of 40 percent is considered appropriate based on severe limitation of motion and pain.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete notification and development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA), as well as the need for a VA examination to address the etiology and severity of his right knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for polyarthritis due to new and material evidence, and finds that her current diagnosis of polyarthritis is related to her active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for post/operative residuals of a right medial meniscectomy is reopened, but denied an increased rating for his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left foot disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and his degenerative arthritis of the first metacarpophalangeal joint may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities, and readjudicating the claims based on all relevant evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, hypertension, sickle cell disease, and a disorder of the lymph nodes were denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim for a disorder of the lymph nodes was also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for scarring on the left foot in addition to the current 30 percent rating for the residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left foot with amputation of the third and fourth toes, acquired deformity, neuropathy, retained metallic fragments, and degenerative arthritis. The combined evaluation does not exceed the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for degenerative arthritis and instability of the right knee, effective from August 2003.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee with osteoarthritis and found no basis to grant a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess her back, right knee, and left ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to have been present in service or for many years thereafter, and thus denied his claims for service connection.