Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted.,Service connection for a left knee disability has been established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its onset in service, within one year of service, or is otherwise related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, cervical and lumbar spine arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis are related to service exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient by themselves to render him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo and left shoulder disorder are secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder disability, respectively. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, thoracic and lumbar spine disorders, and left knee osteoarthritis, status post left knee replacement. The Veteran's claims are now ready for further action.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is not related to his service and denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and records, as well as for further development of the claims. The primary issues are an increased rating for his back disability, service connection for a bilateral knee condition, and TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right foot and ankle disability. The Board has determined that the current examination report is not responsive to the remand directives, necessitating further development.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain, osteoarthritis of the left foot and right foot, and painful scar, dorsal aspect of the left great toe have been granted increased evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection on the lumbar spine arthritis was withdrawn. The Board found that there is no evidence of a left knee disability in service or within one year after separation, and thus denied service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear with tendinopathy.,Service connection was also granted for a right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability with degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent for the initial rating period from April 25, 2007 to December 13, 2010.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for osteoarthritis, effective from the date of this decision. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for a surgical scar associated with the left knee.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted based on his current range of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, which were not previously reviewed. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the extent of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his National Guard service and potential missing medical records. The Board will attempt to verify his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), obtain any relevant service treatment records, and provide an examination to determine the etiology of his back disability.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of current Peyronie's disease, heart disability, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, or eczema of the hands. The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left shoulder degenerative arthritis with internal derangement as secondary to his right shoulder strain. The reduction in evaluation from 20% to 10% for residuals of a chronic right shoulder strain was upheld.