Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, and outstanding VA treatment records are requested.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to noise exposure during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The initial rating for his degenerative arthritis, bilateral knees, status post meniscus repair with scars remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities do not result in loss of use of both lower extremities, and he does not have other service-connected conditions that would qualify him for specially adapted housing. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence is against his claim.

The Veteran's right hand scar, status post cyst removal, is currently rated at 10 percent and does not warrant a higher evaluation.,Prior to December 31, 2012, the Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease was rated at 10 percent. Effective from December 31, 2012, it is rated at 20 percent.,Effective from December 31, 2012, the Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease with IVDS warrants a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining a VA opinion regarding the relationship between his neurological disability and service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 60 percent, effective from the date of this decision.,Both his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and neck disorders are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine prior to March 23, 2009 and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by severe degenerative arthritis and a history of meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent for each condition. The Board has determined that the evidence supports an increased rating to 20 percent for both conditions combined.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any currently diagnosed disorder of the left hand, to include lymphangitis, trigger finger, and osteoarthritis, which manifested while he was on active duty or within a year of his military discharge, or is otherwise related to any aspect of his qualifying active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and has determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board has also found that the Veteran's symptoms of DJD, osteoarthritis, and chondromalacia are continuous since service separation.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's knee and shoulder disorders, but determined that no effective date earlier than September 13, 2007 can be assigned as the claims were not filed within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg, low back, and bilateral hip disabilities are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability, wrist disability, heart disability, hypertension, cold injury residuals, jaw injury residuals, and glaucoma were denied as they are not related to service or cannot be presumed due to the passage of time.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee osteoarthritis and whether he has a left knee disability related to service or secondary to his right knee condition. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and post-service medical records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for VA examinations to assess his hearing loss, back disability, and left hand and wrist disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be the result of injury in active military service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining a report of discharge and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorder will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left knee disorder and his military service. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.