Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine disability and its impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated as part of this process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his partial knee replacement surgery in September 2009, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a temporary 100 percent evaluation for one year following the surgery.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 17, 2012 and a 40 percent rating thereafter. The effective date for the increased rating is set at April 17, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found that the Veteran was not entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claim for service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed condition and active duty or service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's ankle disability did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and any current ankle disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his anxiety with depression and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined disability rating of 100 percent. The Veteran is eligible for financial assistance to acquire an automobile or adaptive equipment due to the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The RO has proposed to sever service connection for the right knee, left knee (secondary), low back disability, and left hip strain. The Veteran's appeal of this proposal was denied in a November 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a retroactive claim within one year from when he became permanently disabled.

The Veteran's left foot disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5284 for moderately severe impairment of a foot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his right leg disability and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's wrist conditions were not incurred in service and denied her claims for service connection. The initial rating claim for asthma was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected left thumb disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and whether his fall was due to his service-connected ankle and/or knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis had its onset in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been characterized by no loss of extension but with limited flexion to at least 110 degrees, and he is entitled to a separate compensable rating for instability under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of an increased rating for his right shoulder disability and TDIU are being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the back had its onset during his qualifying service in the Army National Guard, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.