Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his service exposure to noise, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple joint pain (osteoarthritis) was denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or causation. The claim for increased rating for costochondritis remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the spine is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the current evaluation of 20 percent adequately reflects the severity and symptoms of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint with rotator cuff tear.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TTR were denied. The left knee instability claim is pending since March 13, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 26, 2004 for the assignment of a 80% disability rating for his service-connected IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) with hypertension and polyarthritis. The RO found that the May 26, 2004 VA treatment record constituted an informal claim for a higher rating.

The Board found no left lower leg disorder incurred or aggravated by service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The issue of entitlement to higher ratings for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of multiple joints remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from March 1, 2008. A separate rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is warranted prior to July 30, 2013.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 10 percent since July 31, 2009. The rating is based on the presence of mild anterior wedging and disc space narrowing without any other service-connected conditions or exposure basis.

The Veteran's joint disorder, including osteoarthritis and shoulder impingement syndrome, is not service-connected as it is related to the natural aging process.,There is no evidence of tinnitus in service or within one year after discharge. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not caused by military noise exposure.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed sleep disorder, and his reported difficulty sleeping due to anxiety and nightmares is not supported by medical records.,There is no evidence of fatigue in service or within one year after discharge. The Veteran's current condition is attributed to the natural aging process.,The Veteran had missing teeth at the time of discharge from service, but this does not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not due to loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine has been granted. The claims for allergies, hearing loss, glaucoma, and rheumatoid arthritis and/or arthritis of the cervical spine, elbows, wrists, and hips have also been granted with appropriate ratings. Other claims were denied.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The hip condition is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.,The VA examiner concluded in a July 2012 addendum report that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders were not due to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the appellate period from May 30, 2008 to June 22, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing continuity of symptoms since active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current knee and back conditions are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, including multilevel lumbar degenerative disc disease and multilevel lumbar facet osteoarthritis, is not shown by competent and credible evidence to be the result of his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not related to service. The in-service motor vehicle accident did not result in chronic conditions.