Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The psychiatric, low back, elbow, and knee disorders are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and ensuring proper notification.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to issue a Statement of the Case on several issues.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma has been rated at 60 percent, and she meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current condition was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA orthopedic specialist regarding the etiology of his left shoulder disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar scoliosis with facet arthrosis and cervical degenerative arthritis were not rated higher than the assigned evaluations from January 24, 2009 to December 19, 2013 and since December 20, 2013 respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, sciatic radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as low back condition), scars, degenerative joint disease of both knees, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral nasal pinquecula with dry eyes, hernia, ear pain, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities alone are at least in equipoise as to whether he is unable to obtain or maintain such employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, finding no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records of ACDUTRA service and obtaining VA opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including scoliosis, lumbar spondylosis, lumbar myofascitis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine, is not related to service. The left shoulder disability was also found not to be related to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder conditions, including impingement syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints, are service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that both conditions are as likely as not caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's in-service injury to his left knee.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability is denied. The current 40 percent rating from July 17, 2015, remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and knee disabilities were denied, but his bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a noncompensable rating prior to November 9, 2012, and a 50% rating thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination for his hair loss disability. The remaining claims are also being remanded as the RO has not yet issued an SOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and will re-adjudicate the claim after obtaining all pertinent VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, manifested by limited, painful motion of greater than 60 degrees but not ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome, warranted a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.