Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus the Board finds that he is unemployable.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle, left heel, and right heel conditions are not service-connected as they are not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since the grant of service connection, but does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference or Travel Board hearing at the local RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated assessment of his employment handicap and eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of his claimed conditions, and there is no evidence to support service connection for these disorders.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as the current record does not provide sufficient information on whether his service-connected hip disabilities alone prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records from his employer. A new VA examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his right ankle disability and the etiology of his left upper extremity disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic left foot disorder, low back degenerative arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis with sciatic neuropathy are not related to his period of service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on the issues of service connection for right rotator cuff tendinopathy, cervical spine osteoarthritis, thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis, and left and right leg cramps.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected left fifth finger disability has been denied as the current evaluation is already at its maximum under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of service-connected conditions, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied as he did not meet the requirement of having been in receipt of total disability compensation due to service-connected disabilities for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which is currently rated as 20 percent disabling under DC 5201, has been found to warrant a higher rating of 30 percent due to limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot/ankle disability, specifically degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, was denied as there is no competent evidence showing current diagnosis or a link to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the right hip did not manifest until years after his military service and is not attributable to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.