Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lower spine.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the initial evaluations for diabetes mellitus type II, limited right hip flexion due to osteoarthritis and trochanteric bursitis, and right ankle injury with instability. The Board is dismissing these appeals.

The Veteran's bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees is found to be etiologically related to active service. The Board finds that new VA examinations are necessary to determine if his low back strain, cervical and neck strain, and bilateral ankle strains are etiologically related to active service or secondary to his now service-connected bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his right knee disability and any neck disorder, as well as to clarify whether he is receiving benefits from a source other than VA.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the left shoulder and there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD has been granted, with the disability rated at 70 percent from April 8, 2008 to September 15, 2009 and from November 1, 2009 to July 28, 2011. Service connection for chloracne, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee osteoarthritis, and chin scar have been reopened.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been denied. The VA has provided adequate examinations and the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's posttraumatic osteoarthritis in the knuckle of his right third finger was determined to have pre-existed service and not been aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses of chondromalacia patella, osteoarthritis, and patellofemoral syndrome. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders are denied as the disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's unemployability claim will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, with a 10 percent rating each. The decision also reclassified the existing 10 percent rating for left knee derangement as reflecting slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the etiology of the Veteran's back and neck disabilities, as well as to determine if service connection can be granted for these conditions. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital on June 17, 2012. The Board has determined that the case should be remanded to determine if the services provided were of such a nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health and whether VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing VA treatment records and for further development, including arranging for the Veteran to undergo additional examination if appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not causally related to service or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's calluses and degenerative arthritis of the feet have been rated at 100 percent since the entire period on appeal, with no other issues addressed in this decision.