Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of a low back disability, and the Board has dismissed the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board at the RO in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The Board found that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the hips, shoulders, and knees did not have a nexus to his active service. The evidence does not establish a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is reopened and granted as secondary to his service-connected respiratory disability.,Service connection for asbestosis is granted based on exposure during active duty at Fort Sill.,The claim for increased rating of reactive airway disease remains denied.,Compensation payments for the service-connected left shoulder and low back disabilities are restored.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions were found to be service-connected and not warranting an increased rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder and low back disabilities have been rated based on their current functional limitations, with no higher ratings warranted due to the lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate previous VA examinations. The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities will be evaluated again.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded. His claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches is also being remanded, but he must first perfect his appeal by filing a Substantive Appeal.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the back from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective October 1, 2010, was proper and followed due process requirements.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and probable chondromalacia of the patella are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The issues on appeal include a request for higher ratings.,For the period prior to July 25, 2009, the Veteran's left knee arthritis is rated as 30 percent disabling due to limitation of flexion and 10 percent disabling due to limitation of extension.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip disabilities as well as glaucoma and cataracts. The Veteran's PTSD was rated in excess of 50%.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be referred back to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for left knee service connection and respiratory disorder were denied, while the TDIU claim was not addressed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased rating of migraine headaches was withdrawn. The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for a back disability or bilateral hand condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied as there is no evidence that it is related to his military service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at level I in the right ear and level IV in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating. The current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her knee condition, which she claims was caused by in-service activities.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected right foot disability, as her last examination was in October 2007 and she has indicated that her condition has worsened.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied service connection claims were unsuccessful as no new and material evidence was presented for any of the conditions he sought to reopen.