Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and wrist disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee ligamentous instability. The issue of direct or secondary service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board. The case will be scheduled for a videoconference at the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as her notice of disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed within one year of the December 2008 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and bilateral knee conditions, have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee is being remanded due to inadequate examination and need for updated treatment records.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of a current right ankle disability or left ankle osteoarthritis, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not exhibit a back condition, to include degenerative arthritis, in service or within one year after discharge from service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irregular heart beat and/or palpitations, back disorder (osteoarthritis), and depression. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn regarding service connection for ADHD and learning disability, as well as the evaluation of her left index finger.,For the cervical spine disability, a rating higher than 20 percent is not warranted due to lack of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a new VA examination and consider the applicability of diagnostic codes pertaining to right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremities do not warrant a higher evaluation as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and obtaining all outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence, or because the conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left ring finger is found to be related to his service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and right shoulder osteoarthritis are still pending and require additional development.

The Veteran's right little finger osteoarthritis is manifested by painful motion and limitation of motion, with ankylosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint. The evidence does not reflect that his disability interferes with the motion of other fingers or thumb, nor does it demonstrate ankylosis or limitation of motion of any other digits. As such, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing appropriate notice.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted. The claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss were reopened based on new evidence submitted since the previous decisions.