Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2000

The veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder are not service-connected, while his degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at a 10% disability level.

The Board denied claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, hands, and ankles, as well as a claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis of the right little finger. The veteran's arthritis is found to be due to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have residuals of a back injury incurred or aggravated during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in 1982, 1983, or 1984. The claim is denied.

The veteran is seeking an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected chondrocalcinosis and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, currently rated at 20 percent. The RO must obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for a VA orthopedic examination to determine the severity of his left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and a psychiatric disability are not well grounded. The claim for service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis is found to be well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability results in no more than moderate impairment, and thus did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound due to disability was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, while his fractures of the ninth and tenth ribs were already rated as noncompensable. The appeal was denied.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from March 1997. The veteran's bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees is rated as 10 percent disabling since March 1997.

The Board has determined that the appellant's knee disabilities do not warrant evaluations in excess of their current ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities. The RO continued or granted some of these evaluations but did not grant any higher ratings.

The veteran's cervical spine disability with left arm radiculopathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 60 percent is warranted. The right knee arthritis is not compensable under current criteria, while the left knee arthritis warrants an increased rating to 20 percent. Genital herpes does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well-grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking any service-connected disability or incident to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are not well-grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence linking any respiratory disorder to service.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for an increased rating to 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there was limitation of motion and pain on motion.