Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical opinions and potential need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been denied as he is not shown to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The appellant's non-service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine and right knee pain, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total rating for non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis and chronic impingement syndrome, is found to be related to his military service. His left shoulder scar is also considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues, and no specific service connection decisions are made in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various conditions and claims, including those related to his knee replacements, ankle disorders, carotid stenosis, and right leg wounds. The appeals were addressed in the context of rating decisions and effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to insufficient reasons and bases provided by the Board. The case will be referred back for further action, including obtaining an examination to determine if there is any neurologic disability related to his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his low back injury claim. The psychiatric disability claim was also denied on the merits.

The Veteran is granted service connection for residuals of an avulsion fracture of the left ankle and osteoarthritis of the left knee, both found to be directly related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine to include the shoulders and granted the claim, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the Veteran's claims.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and examination reports.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for bilateral foot disorders, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging a VA examination to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right hand disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a separate compensable rating for right wrist impairment or an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joints is not considered to be secondary or aggravated by his service-connected injury of the thoracic muscles with resection of the fourth rib.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with spurring is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it warrants a higher rating due to additional functional loss caused by pain and weakness.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right knee instability and osteoarthritis with patellar chondromalacia of the right and left knees have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.