Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities and thrombophlebitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and low back disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine does not render him unemployable due to his disability alone, as he has other significant health issues and prior employment history that make it difficult for him to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it is related to his period of service.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues of service connection for left shoulder, left biceps and cervical spine disorders. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis was granted a 10 percent rating effective May 21, 2010. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis and superior glenoid lesion of the right shoulder, as well as osteoarthritis and calcific tendonitis of the right elbow. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 50 percent to 40 percent was not proper, and the 50 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left distal fibula are rated at 10 percent since May 2, 2005. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate as there is no evidence of nonunion or malunion of the tibia or fibula and the disability does not meet criteria for higher ratings under DC 5262.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other disabilities, but it remains unclear whether these claims will be granted as the evidence is not sufficient to establish a current disability or a link between any diagnosed condition and service. The Veteran also seeks service connection for hypertension and GERD, which may be related to his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 5243 for degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, including whether it precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection and found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current disabilities (peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and feet, osteoarthritis of the right hand, and onychomycosis of the feet) and his active duty service. The claim is therefore granted.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left and right ankles were rated at 20 percent prior to October 23, 2008, with no effective date provided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sacroiliac disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sacroiliac fusion and denied the remaining claims, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to her active duty service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AMC for further development, including obtaining VA medical records from Decatur VAMC and ensuring that all relevant evidence is considered in adjudicating the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic low back disability.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, and her limitation of extension of the left knee is rated at 50 percent. Both ratings are effective June 10, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip degenerative arthritis was denied. The current disability is rated as 10 percent disabling under the criteria for limitation of motion, specifically Diagnostic Code 5252.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from September 1992.