Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's low back and bilateral leg disabilities are not service-connected. The Board finds no evidence of a current bilateral hip disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for neurologic abnormalities associated with his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the back due to failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with another opportunity to submit authorization forms.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine was granted, with a 20% rating effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for his great toe disabilities remain at 10%.

The Veteran's appeal was denied regarding a compensable rating for his fractured mandible. The issues of service connection for residuals of head trauma and right knee disability were also addressed, but the appeals are resolved as they have been granted elsewhere.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right knee injury with osteoarthritis, and left knee arthritis with meniscal disease, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, degenerative osteoarthritis, stenosis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, facet hypertrophy, and disk herniation of the lumbar spine, was incurred in active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthrosis and osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder, effective August 21, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in service, within one year of separation from service, or related to any incident of service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his in-service injury, and grants service connection for a right knee disability. The right shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and chronic low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or post-service continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by ankylosis and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 50 percent. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not have a left ear hearing loss disability and his service-connected left knee, elbow, and cubital tunnel syndromes do not meet the criteria for an initial rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, compliance with VCAA requirements, and obtaining updated medical records.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left ankle injury and osteoarthritis of the left hip, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to June 28, 2007 was granted. For the period beginning August 1, 2007, his disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports from March 1998.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical nexus opinion to address whether the Veteran's current low back disability is causally related to his service-connected left foot injury. The Veteran must provide any recent treatment records and report for the VA examination.

The Veteran's right hip and knee disabilities have been granted initial ratings, with the exception of a separate compensable rating for his meniscus tear in the right knee. The Veteran experiences significant pain and functional impairment that limits his ability to perform daily activities and work.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine and right foot disabilities have been granted initial evaluations. The cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to April 20, 2010, and at 20 percent beginning on that date. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent. The right foot disability is rated at 10 percent.