Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right hip is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective April 2, 2010. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right great toe and left knee disabilities, as well as to request relevant VA outpatient records from 1990 through the present.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have not been found to warrant higher evaluations, with the exception of a separate compensable evaluation for osteoarthritis prior to December 7, 2000.

The Veteran's right knee condition, despite some limitations in motion and pain, does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation as his range of motion is within normal limits.

The Board has remanded the claims due to uncertainty regarding the periods of active and inactive duty training, which is necessary for proper service connection determination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including new examinations and a TDIU determination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to establish the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining missing service treatment records and potentially reconstructing a possible in-service injury.

The Veteran's left great toe amputation is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms. The service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities (diabetes) was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hip, and lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and malignant melanoma of the left eye, status post enucleation were denied. The claim for exposure to malathion and chlordane was not addressed as it is precluded due to lack of specific claimed disability.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the feet and toes is presumed to have been incurred in service, while his cervical spine arthritis is also presumed. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for TMJ syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability with degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no competent evidence associating any current knee disorder to active military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 17, 2007. It was then increased to 20 percent from that date until February 18, 2010, when it was further increased to 30 percent following a total knee replacement.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, were reduced from their previous ratings to 10 percent each. The reduction was proper as there is no evidence of exceptional disability pictures or daily life impairment that would render the VA rating schedule inadequate.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are found to be aggravated by his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and found that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during active duty. The initial disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine muscle strain with degenerative arthritis warrants a 10 percent rating prior to July 23, 2009.

The Veteran's right hip greater trochanteric bursitis with degenerative joint disease and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and osteoarthritis have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.