Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's polyarthritis affecting multiple joints, including the lumbar spine, shoulders, hands, knees, ankles, and feet, has been rated at 20 percent for the lumbar spine, 10 percent each for the right shoulder, left shoulder, right hand, left hand, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right foot, and left foot. The Veteran's symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, and functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and his associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are also rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's upper extremity radiculopathy due to cervical spine disorder has been rated based on the severity of symptoms prior to and after June 21, 2013. Prior to that date, he was granted a 10 percent evaluation for each affected upper extremity. After June 21, 2013, his ratings were increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, effective August 2005. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis in joints other than the right knee, claimed as cervical spine and left hip disability. The propriety of reducing his VA benefits to 10 percent rate due to incarceration was also denied. The increased rating claims were not addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the left foot, prostate cancer, and right knee disability have been denied. Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and left ankle, but initial ratings were not assigned.

The RO denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus and service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including as secondary to his service connected diabetes. The June 2012 VA examination found that the Veteran did not require regulation of his blood sugar levels.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral eye disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the self-reported diagnosis of welder's keratitis was not confirmed by medical examination.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of T12-L1 (low back) was also denied as his condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected postoperative left knee medial meniscectomy. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and left leg disabilities are not related to his military service, but granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of their existence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development of his service-connected right knee instability disability.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 50 percent, which does not meet the percentage requirements for schedular TDIU. The Board finds no persuasive evidence suggesting that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities or that his case is outside the norm.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to consider additional symptomatology identified in a February 2013 VA examination report, including shin splints. The RO must evaluate whether a separate rating for this condition is appropriate.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received to support this claim. The Veteran underwent arthroscopic surgery in 2006, which resolved his symptoms.

The Veteran's low back disability has not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent since July 14, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of his left knee is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper VCAA notice prior to the February 2010 rating decision.