Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is not service connected as it did not originate during his active duty and there is no evidence of aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 22, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation and education folder, and another opinion regarding his employability based on the cumulative effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left and right knee disorders is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further examination and additional records, including VA treatment records and private medical evidence. The claim will be readjudicated after all requested actions are completed.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to his military service and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee osteoarthritis and instability are both granted, with the osteoarthritis receiving a 10% evaluation. The instability is separately evaluated at 10%. The case remains pending for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to April 27, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including hallux valgus and osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis and osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips are being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent under the criteria for traumatic arthritis with limitation of motion, but no higher. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, has been reopened. The Board also remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus for additional development.

The Veteran's residuals of a right wrist fracture with osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 5214. The Veteran does not have ankylosis.,For PTSD from August 5, 2008 to December 18, 2011, the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation of 70 percent as he demonstrated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but without evidence of flattened affect or panic attacks more than once a week. Since December 19, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable prior to February 24, 2003 due to his service-connected disabilities. The effective date for a TDIU is therefore denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and residuals of a tibial stress fracture, has been rated at 10 percent since October 2008. The Board found that the current symptoms do not warrant an increase in rating due to slight knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to require regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis effective as of September 30, 2010 was improper. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and instability, are already compensated at maximum levels. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The Veteran needs to be provided with a new VA examination to determine if his current knee disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.