Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and thoracic outlet syndrome, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound due to his ability to perform daily activities with assistance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The earlier effective date claims were also denied.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining service personnel records and SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without showing good cause, and the claim is therefore adjudicated as denied.

The Veteran's appeal regarding earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU was dismissed as the issues were withdrawn. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical records from Kaiser Permanente.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 14, 2006 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine hypertrophic osteoarthritis was denied. The effective date is set at November 18, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his low back disability and cervical spine disability, as well as bilateral knee disabilities, were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the old or new rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disabilities, including osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The VA examiner concluded that there was no evidence of chronicity for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a VA examination, and adjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his diabetes is secondary to in-service TB treatment with INH therapy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional pertinent evidence and for a new VA examination to determine his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the left knee did not manifest within one year after separation from service and was not causally related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is service-connected, as it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The bilateral eye condition was also found to be service-connected based on direct evidence of a current disability and no other basis for connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left total knee replacements with osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis of the wrists, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The VA examiner found that these conditions were not caused by or related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less, nor was there evidence of favorable ankylosis. The Veteran's symptoms were considered in light of the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right and left knees are currently rated at 10 percent each, but his lumbar spine arthritis is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings on both knee conditions has been denied.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently has a bilateral hip disorder, diagnosed as bilateral hip osteoarthritis, which was incurred in or aggravated during his active military service. The claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is also granted.