Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current back strain and lumbar osteoarthritis to his time in service, including a diagnosed muscle strain during active duty. The examiner concluded that any link between these conditions and service was doubtful.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities and obtaining any pertinent medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis have been reopened. However, his increased rating claims for degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral hearing loss disability remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pain in the left hand and wrist, degenerative arthritis of the left knee with a Baker's cyst, and depression, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability due to ACL deficiency and arthritis, is rated at 30 percent effective February 7, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a kidney disorder, as well as his requests for increased ratings for various disabilities, were denied. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 29, 2010.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right knee bursitis with osteoarthritis before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge via videoconference.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was granted at a 10 percent level prior to April 26, 2011. A separate 20 percent rating was assigned for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the right knee during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple orthopedic conditions, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current right ankle disability and service.

The Board found no evidence to support a relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder osteoarthritis and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hip and feet disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling since April 11, 2007. The effective date for these ratings is fixed based on the facts found.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and the Veteran's symptoms are better explained by polyarthritis or degenerative joint disease. As such, service connection for rheumatoid arthritis cannot be granted.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis changes, effective November 6, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to March 5, 2009 was denied as the evidence did not show that he had forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees or the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees, or muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his lumbar spine disability since March 5, 2009 was denied as the evidence did not show that he had unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 30 percent from March 29, 2005 to September 25, 2006. The claim for an increased evaluation remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a Social and Industrial Survey to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are not related to service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disorders of the lumbar spine, bilateral knees, and bilateral hips are in part proximately caused by and aggravated by his service-connected left Achilles tendonitis. The VHA specialist concluded that these conditions were related to the altered gait resulting from the left ankle disability.