Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, medial meniscus tears, and left knee MCL strain were found to be incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, including osteoarthritis and a back strain. The Veteran's back disability is related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's low back disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury during ACDUTRA. The remaining issues of secondary service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and left thigh disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion, limitation of flexion to no worse than 120 degrees, and limitation of extension to no worse than 5 degrees, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA treatment records related to the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The case is REMANDED for obtaining these records.

The Veteran's DJD/OA of the great toe joints has been found to have increased in severity, necessitating a 10% rating beginning in June 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee and osteoarthritis of the right knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent for the period prior to April 9, 2010. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral leg disorders, bilateral hip disorders, and bilateral knee disorders are all service connected as they were aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and failure to consider all relevant evidence, including lay statements of symptoms during service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion and severe limitation of motion during daily flare-ups due to osteoarthritis that required TKR in October 2010, is currently rated at 20 percent from January 19, 2010 through October 12, 2010.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically addressing whether his service-connected cold injury residuals contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and shoulder disabilities are related to service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board found no evidence of chronic residuals of a fall manifesting in service and concluded that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her in-service fall. Service connection for residuals of a fall is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending due to a remand request. The issues include seeking higher initial ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine arthritis, IBS, and hyperhidrosis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis with anterolisthesis was denied prior to April 18, 2013. From that date forward, the claim was also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is not etiologically related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been denied. The Veteran was found to have no worse than Level I hearing acuity in both ears, resulting in a non-compensable disability rating under DC 6100. For his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, he is currently rated at 10 percent and this rating criteria does not support an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The reduction of the rating for back disability from 40% to 20% is granted.