Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection of osteoarthritis of the knees was denied. For his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the hands and wrists, he is granted a 10% rating for each hand and wrist, but not higher.

The Veteran's additional wrist disabilities, including CTS and osteoarthritis, are not etiologically related to his service. His left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease is linked to his service.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 10% since October 1, 2007. The rating has remained unchanged as of September 11, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that his preexisting condition had been aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for left knee arthritis with scar or left knee instability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis, right knee. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis in his right knee is found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular considerations.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disorders is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for any of the conditions listed, including PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is not related to an injury sustained during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and denied his claim of service connection.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the cervical spine did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective October 17, 2012. The radiculopathy of the lower right extremity remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for service-connected right knee instability and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than the current 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, diagnosed as left wrist posttraumatic synovitis, posttraumatic degenerative arthritis, and scapholunate dissociation, is causally related to his military service. The appeal for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, as well as additional examinations. The case will be reviewed after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and psoriasis of the hands, shins, and feet, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence in favor of these claims.,Both conditions are presumed to have arisen during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion from the February 2012 VA examiner to address whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his active duty.