Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2012

The appeal for an increased rating for a left shoulder disability has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for his low back and left knee disabilities and service connection for a right knee disability.

Prior to May 6, 2008, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine warranted a rating of 40 percent.,From May 6, 2008, to April 26, 2011, the Veteran's disability was rated at 20 percent.,Since April 27, 2011, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine warranted a rating of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability of the right or left lower extremities that is causally related to service. The claims for these disabilities are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's death cause and accrued benefits claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from January 2008 until his death in February 2008, and providing a VA medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including strain with Baker's cyst and very early osteoarthritis, is at least as likely due to his in-service injury during active duty. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed right knee and low back disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right elbow was rated at 10 percent before March 27, 2012. From that date, a separate rating of 20 percent for limitation of pronation is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hip, and right ankle disability do not warrant ratings in excess of the initial noncompensable ratings assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral acquired eye disability, osteoarthritis of the feet, and Raynaud's syndrome of the upper extremities are all service-connected.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is rated at 10 percent since July 12, 1993 and remains at that level to the present. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, conjunctivitis, lumbar strain and spinal degenerative arthritis, sinusitis, hypertension, bronchitis, cervical degenerative arthritis with spondylosis with right arm radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of the arms, wrists, and hands. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for residuals of a right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis beginning on April 23, 2009. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been granted and an initial noncompensable rating was assigned.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active duty. Service connection was also denied for diabetes due to lack of in-service diagnosis or onset.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right hip and left hip, as well as lumbosacral strain with very mild degenerative change, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back conditions, including osteoarthritis and degenerative facet arthropathy with multilevel central and neural foraminal stenosis, DDD, and degenerative spondylosis secondary to DDD, were incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected, as there is no evidence linking them to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and private medical records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his right knee disabilities, and adjudicate his TDIU claim.