Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's scoliosis and whether his lumbar spine conditions are secondary to his service-connected right and left knee conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by limited motion and pain, did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is directly related to his active duty service. The issue of secondary service connection for the right knee disability due to a service-connected left knee condition will also be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back disability and right hip replacement.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and left knee osteoarthritis with patella spur, but denied an increased rating for limitation of extension of the left knee. The Veteran's current disability ratings are as follows: 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis with patella spur; and 10 percent for limitation of extension of the left knee.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a neck disability, including consideration of whether his preexisting condition was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of his service-connected conditions, and therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and he has separate radiculopathy of the left lower extremity that warrants a separate 10 percent rating. The initial rating for his thoracolumbar osteoarthritis remains unchanged.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, anxiety disorder, increased rating for disuse muscle atrophy of the biceps and triceps, left, and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis was initially rated at 20 percent from April 29, 2008 to August 14, 2012. Since then, the rating has been increased to 10 percent.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the current osteoarthritis of the right knee to service, including any in-service injuries. The Veteran's current disability is considered unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the dorsal spine and its impact on employment. The claim for TDIU will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer rated at 100%, PTSD rated at 70%, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent left shoulder dislocation, right ankle fracture, osteoarthritis of the left knee and right knee, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand, and hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee, as well as his osteoarthritis, have been granted initial ratings. The right knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to August 15, 2000. The RO granted a TDIU effective from August 15, 2000, based on his combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since April 2006, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, is found to be at least as likely as not incurred during service due to continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his combined service-connected disabilities on his employability. The case will be readjudicated after this.