Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally related to his military service. The claim was also denied for an increased rating for residuals of a pelvis fracture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and review of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a right knee disability, which is secondary to residuals of a left knee injury with osteoarthritis, status post meniscectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the left shoulder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as any outstanding SSA records. The AOJ will issue an SSOC on the issues of service connection for xerosis cutis, higher ratings for right elbow supination/pronation impairment, left elbow supination/pronation impairment, scars (x3) status post-right knee surgery, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, entitlement to a TDIU rating, and waiver of recovery of an overpayment of disability compensation benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including meniscal tear and osteoarthritis with instability, is caused by his service-connected right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions on the issue of secondary service connection for his right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, concluding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their clinical onset in service or are otherwise related to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella with osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left knee, as well as consideration of additional functional loss and flare-ups.

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 Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case. The issues include service connection for left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, an increased rating for posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee, and TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left foot disability, including pes planus and degenerative arthritis, did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to service. The increase in severity of these conditions was not shown during his period of active duty from December 2002 to October 2003.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disorders, including osteoarthritis and a meniscal tear, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of left knee meniscectomy and ACL repairs with osteoarthritis, and residuals of a fracture of the right little finger were denied. The VA examinations did not find any additional limitation of motion or other disabling symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for epistaxis, migraine headaches prior to March 5, 2010, left hip bursitis prior to March 5, 2010, and lumbar degenerative arthritis prior to March 5, 2010 have all been granted. The Veteran's claims for evaluations of these conditions are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability (claimed as osteoarthritis) and awarded temporary total rating based on convalescence following right foot bunionectomy. Service connection was denied for back cysts, bilateral sciatica, neck strain, and right shoulder disability.