Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right hip, ankle, and foot disabilities were denied. The conditions are rated as follows: Right Hip Strain (Sprain) is currently evaluated at 10% disabling; Right Ankle Degenerative Arthritis is currently evaluated at 20%; and Right Foot Degenerative Arthritis with Hallux Valgus is currently evaluated at noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Parkinson's disease, tinnitus, and diabetes, are sufficiently severe to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis, is related to his active service. As such, the criteria for entitlement to service connection have been met and the Veteran's claim is granted.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative joint disease is caused by his service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis are related to his in-service parachute jumps, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left lower extremity disorder.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent from August 12, 2010 for degenerative arthritis with noncompensable limited flexion. He was granted a separate rating of 30 percent for limited extension of the left knee effective August 11, 2014. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened but not yet decided.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. The case is now remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including status post bunionectomy and sesamoid excision with mild osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The service-connected pes planus is also rated at 10 percent. No higher ratings are warranted for either condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed syringomyelia and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology after service separation.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, which meets the percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following all substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional examinations and consideration of a 1151 claim, as well as reconsideration of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder, finding that his current hip symptoms are not related to his in-service injury and that osteoarthritis is not presumed due to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial evaluations assigned for the disabilities granted by the February 2009 rating decision are not supported.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disability are service-connected as they were caused by in-service noise exposure and a pre-existing injury, respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis, circumcision residuals, and tinea pedis. The Veteran was already receiving a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left leg disorder other than the service-connected left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claim for right leg injury residuals and bilateral foot injury residuals was denied as new and material evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining SSA records.