Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is related to complaints of low back pain in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are causally related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees are rated at 10% each, effective June 1, 2009. The claims for higher ratings are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of bilateral hands and fingers and arthritis of the left elbow, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for PTSD and service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The rating for PTSD was increased to 70 percent effective April 7, 2010, but the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for spine disorder and left knee disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration of his claims, including the severity of his right knee disability and whether his left knee disorder is secondary to his right knee disability.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's neck pain and arthritis are not related to his service-connected disabilities, including incomplete foot drop. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected left foot disability and whether any additional back-related disabilities found are service connected.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's service-connected neurogenic bladder disability has been assigned an initial compensable rating from August 1, 2006 through June 20, 2010. The Veteran's current condition warrants a staged rating of 60 percent effective June 21, 2010.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limited extension and osteoarthritis, has been granted a 30 percent rating effective May 8, 2012. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected gout of multiple joints was rated at 40% prior to April 28, 2010. The Board denied an increased rating as there were no issues related to service connection and the evidence did not support a higher rating based on active process or chronic residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral hip disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected calcaneal spur of the right ankle is currently rated at 10 percent, effective May 30, 2008. The disability is considered to be a direct result of his military service without any presumption or secondary connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his left knee disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the current ratings are appropriate.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and assigned a 20% evaluation effective May 29, 2009. The Veteran requested an earlier effective date but was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are related to his disability evaluation and the timeliness of his notice of disagreement regarding overpayment and waiver of indebtedness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his current symptoms.