Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2005

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's residuals of a right ankle fracture, effective from June 15, 2002. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to his service-connected right ankle fracture was also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's Scheuermann's disease existed prior to service and was not shown to have worsened during service. The current back disorders, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, were not determined to be related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical disc herniation with spondylosis and radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The VA found that the veteran's conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound, as her conditions are not severe enough to require regular assistance or confinement.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability. The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is also found to be related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for osteoarthritis of the left knee rated at 10 percent prior to March 4, 2004 and 30 percent thereafter has been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, bilateral shoulders, knees, hands, wrists, elbows, feet, hips, and lumbar spine. The veteran's arthritis was not found to have originated during or within one year after his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip, PTSD, and a left hip disability. The claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the right hip was also denied.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the left great toe and tinnitus have been granted original disability evaluations, with a 30 percent rating for the left foot condition since May 2, 2001.

The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, residuals of right knee surgery with insufficient ligament, and residuals of right wrist injury with surgery and arthritic change.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or retain gainful employment.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development.