Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, status-post right above the knee amputation, as secondary to service-connected status-post left knee arthroplasty. The back disability claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disease, left knee disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands due to issues not being resolved.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hearing loss for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a foot disability was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations of his service-connected knees and bilateral ankle and feet disabilities. The examiner should also address whether any current bilateral ankle and foot disabilities are causally or etiologically related to parachute jump landings during military service.

The Veteran's seronegative rheumatoid-like polyarthritis and peptic ulcer disease with mild dumping syndrome and gastro-esophageal reflux have been granted a 100 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, to include as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of left ear hearing loss due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been addressed, and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are evaluated appropriately.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's total left knee replacement due to osteoarthritis is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 60 percent, effective from November 10, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the claim of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected residuals of prostate cancer prior to December 1, 2009, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter. The remaining claims of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee are addressed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent from March 3, 2005 to November 22, 2005, and in excess of 10 percent beginning February 1, 2006, for osteoarthritis of the left knee was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity numbness and pain, degenerative arthritis of the left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased evaluations under applicable rating codes.

The Veteran's bilateral mild osteopenia and club shaped metatarsal heads with mild varus formation are currently rated as 30 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5278. The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral feet warrants a noncompensable evaluation.

The Veteran's spinal disability was granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, effective April 9, 2010. His hip disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board found no competent and credible evidence indicating the Veteran's current neck condition is related to his military service, including his service-connected low back disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine and right thoracic outlet syndrome were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination.