Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for right knee and left leg/knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and other relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for clarification of dates of service and additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of the appellant's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and to obtain any outstanding treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after the requested actions are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected status post right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and other orthopedic conditions, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to concerns about the severity of the service-connected back disability and radiculopathy, as well as the potential relationship between a neck disability and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease has not resulted in limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, nor ankylosis of any portion of the spine. There have been no incapacitating episodes.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee with subluxation or instability, effective from December 6, 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and left knee instability, along with right ring finger disability, prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether they render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed hip disorders, specifically bilateral hip osteoarthritis and trochanteric bursitis of the right hip, are not related to service or any incident of service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his left knee chondromalacia with instability, left knee post-traumatic arthritis, and right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities, including instability and degenerative arthritis, are rated at 10 percent each. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, as he had been receiving a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for over ten years prior to his death.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and his degenerative arthritis of the left distal humerus is not related to service. The Board finds that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection. The left shoulder disorder claim is pending as it has not been addressed in this decision.