Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2012

The Board denied service connection for right knee arthritis, right hip arthritis, and left elbow spur and olecranon bursitis as these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's new VA examination will provide an opinion on whether her current right knee disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis with residuals of a total knee replacement, is related to an injury sustained during active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were granted. However, his claims for lumbar spine disability, right knee osteoarthritis, and cervical spine disability were not supported by evidence of a nexus to active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was found to be manifested by flexion of 110 degrees and extension of 30 degrees as of September 6, 2011. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intermittent nerve root irritation to the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to May 14, 2010. From May 14, 2010, his disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine was granted a 20 percent disability rating effective November 1, 2010. Prior to this date, he received a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the appellant's current low back problems are unrelated to her active service or any incident therein, and thus denies her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and knee replacements. The appellant is entitled to accrued benefits for a TDIU based on the Veteran's pending claim at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the spine, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent subluxation of the left shoulder with degenerative osteoarthritis is currently rated at 30 percent effective October 4, 2011. The Board has granted this rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination to determine if any current left knee disorder is etiologically-related to military service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2007. The condition is manifested by limited motion and pain.

The Board has granted service connection for scoliosis, finding that the Veteran's active duty service is related to his current condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's low back disorder and his active duty service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's reports of an in-service injury were considered, but no chronic right knee disability was established or presumed due to its absence during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected small joint symmetric polyarthritis involving the hands and feet has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hand disability, including osteoarthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and residuals of fractures of the right tibia and fibula, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.