Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, without consideration of his age or non-service connected disabilities, prevent the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is granted as service connected. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service injury and current disability, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their respective conditions, with the highest available rating of 20 percent for each. The decision grants these ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis changes has been withdrawn. The remaining issues on appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and right knee disorders are not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The issues are whether he should receive increased schedular ratings for his patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis of both knees, and if the reduction in disability ratings from 40% and 30% to 10% was proper.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were granted, with the adjustment disorder receiving a 50% rating effective from August 25, 2010. The lumbar spine disability received a 40% rating effective from August 25, 2010. Other issues remain in appellate status.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, upper and lower extremity disabilities, and bilateral eye disability have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left hip disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis with trochanteric bursitis and chronic muscular strain, is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The temporary total rating for hospitalization in excess of 21 days due to a service-connected condition is also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability to include infectious disease, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The evidence submitted since the last final denial was found to be cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development by the Director of Compensation and Pension Services.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of secondary conditions to his right knee osteoarthritis were denied.

The Veteran's thoracic muscle strain with fibrositis of the right scapular area and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was rated at 10 percent prior to August 5, 2013. Since then, it has been rated as 40 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 30, 2012 and since then has not resulted in forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees or any other condition that would warrant an increased rating.