Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the hands, as it was not shown to be related to service and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and finds that it is related to her service-connected left knee osteoarthritis. The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis, as well as the TDIU issue, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of STRs and insufficient medical evidence in the file to make a determination. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for his right ankle and left hand disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for ear fungus and separate ratings for instability of the right knee and degenerative arthritis, but denied higher disability ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis, including psoriatic and degenerative arthritis of the lower extremities, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also determined that it is less likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disorder.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee as secondary to his service-connected ankle disabilities. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to clarify whether he currently has this condition and if it is caused by his ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his service personnel records and scheduling him for an audiological examination to determine the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, was found to have been incurred in service and granted service connection. The claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Board found that the reduction in compensation from 20 percent to 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was not proper, as there was no evidence of improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development and consideration of his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate April 2013 VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the hips and knees are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and breast lump. The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted.,PTSD was initially granted with a higher rating from July 31, 2007 to November 11, 2010.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including bipolar disorder and head injury residuals. The Board finds that the Veteran's unemployability is due to his service-connected psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder), and grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee patellar tendinitis, right knee osteoarthritis, and left shoulder osteoarthritis are related to his military service. As a result, the claims for these disabilities have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disorder and broken left pinky finger are not service-connected as they did not occur during his military service or within one year of discharge.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right and left knee conditions, including surgery scars on both knees, were neither incurred in nor related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right elbow, and low back disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, effective March 29, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee.

The Veteran's left knee DJD is rated at 10 percent, effective July 27, 2007. The residuals of his left knee injury are rated at 20 percent from January 6, 2012.,For the period from July 26, 2007 to January 5, 2012, the Veteran's left knee injury residuals were rated at 10 percent. From January 6, 2012, they are rated at 20 percent.