Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis is related to his military service, specifically the injuries he sustained in a helicopter crash and an automobile accident during service. As such, the claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The right knee condition was not rated higher than the current 30 percent, and no separate rating for instability was granted. For left knee degenerative joint disease, a 10 percent evaluation from June 23, 2011, was maintained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable during the time periods at issue, as his combined evaluation was sufficient to meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU and he had other factors that prevented employment.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee osteoarthritis and instability have been found to cause marked interference with employment, warranting an extraschedular rating.

The Board finds that service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including IVDS and degenerative arthritis, is rated at 40 percent from February 5, 2015. His sciatica of the right lower extremity remains at a 40 percent rating since that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of the hands and wrist, as well as his GERD, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The cold sweats claim was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for a service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing VA treatment records and other documents, as well as the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service or a postservice occupation as a bricklayer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his back disability. The TDIU claim was also denied as it arose from a final decision denying entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left shoulders, finding that there is evidence linking these disabilities to active duty service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current left ankle disorders are related to his active military service. The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disabilities are less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's back disability, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities, is rated at 20 percent since September 9, 2014. The claim for a separate rating for radiculopathy of the upper extremities was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied his claim for direct service connection. The issues of secondary service connection for knees and hips remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disorder was denied, and he is currently rated at 10 percent for arthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and afford him new examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Veteran's appeal regarding higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees has been withdrawn, resulting in dismissal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is causally or etiologically due to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.