Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted, with a rating of 40 percent effective from March 10, 2011. The right and left shoulder disabilities are rated at the maximum available under the VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a left ankle injury is granted, finding that his credible account of an inservice injury and treatment therefor supports a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and right shoulder conditions are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician and treated by a physician.

The Veteran's hypertension, osteoarthritis, and high cholesterol were not shown to be related to service.,There is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 50 percent since July 31, 2012. He also receives a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, manifested by limitation of arm motion without dislocation, nonunion or loose union, impairment of the humerus, or ankylosis, is not rated higher than 30 percent.

The Board has ordered another examination and review of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disorder due to inadequate previous opinions. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-total knee replacement residuals, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection and initial compensable ratings for right eye pterygium, left eye pinquecula, and right knee meniscectomy with osteoarthritis. The Veteran also received a higher initial rating for his right knee instability.,Service connection was established for the right eye pterygium, left eye pinquecula, and right knee meniscectomy with osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service connection determinations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability, urinary incontinence, dyshidrotic eczema, and osteoarthritis of the right knee were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding her dental disability or her claim for urinary incontinence. For dyshidrotic eczema, the Board noted that there was no demonstration by medical or lay evidence of record of a current disability requiring systemic therapy. For osteoarthritis of the right knee, the Board found slight limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands and hypertension, but remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 27, 1999 for the award of TDIU is granted as this was the date she filed her initial claim for service connection for PTSD. The criteria for a TDIU were met during the period from July 27, 1999 to August 12, 2003 due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability, including osteoarthritis, is related to his service as a firefighter and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and osteoarthritis due to incomplete records and a need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from 1978 and 1988.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee with valgus deformity and tricompartment disease is being remanded to allow for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in Los Angeles, California. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating due to ankylosis, and thus denied his claim for increased ratings. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination during a period of flare up of knee symptoms and obtaining additional medical evidence. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also raised.