Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hip disabilities.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left and right knees was found to have onset in service, and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability and found that there is no current evidence showing residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 14, 2009, and in excess of 20 percent as of that date.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right knee disability and Hepatitis C. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's total combined disability rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU. The Board finds that the Veteran is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for further development of evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, both to include as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left distal tibia and fibula fracture.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. He is now entitled to a combined rating of 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain and an increased rating for left knee arthritis due to a lack of current disability. The Veteran was provided adequate notification, all relevant evidence has been obtained, and no further development is required.

The Veteran seeks service connection for osteoarthritis and TDIU. The VA examiner's opinion is inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise, as the in-service injury was documented. A remand is required to obtain a proper VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral upper extremity disability other than peripheral neuropathy, including osteoarthritis, right lateral epicondylitis, and right elbow tendonitis. The claims are also being considered in light of a possible secondary service connection theory based on diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a recurrent left ankle sprain with peroneal nerve injury and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left hip.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his knees, hip and spine disabilities were denied. The Veteran was awarded separate 10 percent ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee prior to August 20, 2007, but no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, as well as other conditions, have been considered. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a left elbow injury is granted, with an effective date to be determined based on further review. Service connection for varicose veins was denied previously. Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dental issues has also been addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the left fifth DIP joint is not etiologically related to his in-service blunt trauma, and thus service connection for residuals of a left hand injury is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and back disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities have been denied. The criteria for higher ratings are not met.