Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and issuing a statement of the case regarding his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not service-connected.,The Veteran's symptoms of pain in the bilateral arms, legs, back and neck; sinus disorder; skin disorder; and stomach disorder have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Veteran's pes planus, metatarsal calluses, and degenerative arthritis of the left foot are found to be service-connected. The Veteran also has service-connected cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is related to service and grants this claim. The right knee disability and left knee disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee medial meniscectomy and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, providing corrective VCAA notice, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his low back injury.

The Board has remanded this matter for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the reopening of his claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine will be addressed at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and tendonitis, are at least as likely to have been caused by his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability, which includes degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is currently evaluated at 10 percent. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful flexion ranging from 50 to 140 degrees and swelling, has been rated at 10 percent for the entire rating period. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder is found to have started during service and continues today, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and dyssomnia. The VA will schedule appropriate examinations during periods of exacerbation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left lower extremity disorder is not related to her military service and is not secondary to her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU prior to August 13, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low backache and right knee disability have been granted service connection.,The claim for residuals of right ankle injury (claimed as right foot condition) is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination for his cervical spine disability and because of inextricably intertwined issues regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as chondromalacia patella and mild osteoarthritis of the left knee, was not incurred during active service or due to an event, injury, or disease incurred in active service. The preponderance of evidence is against this claim.

The Veteran's pre-existing 'knock knee' condition was aggravated during service and resulted in current bilateral knee osteoarthritis, allowing for the grant of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right elbow degenerative arthritis with residuals does not warrant a higher disability rating, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.