Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, lumbar spine has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to procedural defects, including the failure to issue a statement of the case for his disagreement with assigned evaluations and earlier effective dates. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated in conjunction with these issues.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective July 11, 2011. The decision also addressed service connection for left leg disability secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine ankylosing spondylitis is currently rated at 100 percent, the highest schedular evaluation available. The Veteran also has a separate compensable rating for his neurologic abnormalities associated with his spinal condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hip disability, to include osteoarthritis and DJD, is not related to his military service. The claim for hypertension was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain did not have its onset in active military service, arthritis did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation, and chronic lumbosacral strain has not otherwise been shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hand and lower back conditions are not related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims.

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 left knee disability. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at his local RO. The issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation and service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted, and his initial rating for hypothyroidism remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the left wrist. The case has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his active military service due to ischemic heart disease, which was presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure. The Board also found that the ischemic heart disease contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, including episodes of locking and dislocation, limitation of extension, and instability. The Board has granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling prior to March 13, 2014 and 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a total right knee replacement due to degenerative arthritis. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis was rated at 10 percent from February 15, 2006 to March 11, 2012 and increased to 40 percent effective March 12, 2012.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the hands and fingers, as well as arthritis of the left elbow. The case is now remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability has been granted, and the issue is now moot. The Board lacks jurisdiction over the issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a head injury as it pertains to an already resolved issue.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the back, finding that it did not manifest during or within one year after service and is not etiologically related to service. Service connection was also denied for hypertension.