Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right shoulder disability resulted in functional loss comparable to limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder level on and after February 20, 2014, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including his left knee disability. The TDIU claim has been granted. For the left femur fracture with arthritis of the left knee, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claims for service connection. The cervical spine disability was evaluated at 10 percent, which is within the range of evaluations available under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records, requesting private medical records from Dr. W in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected knee and hand disabilities as well as whether a lumbar spine disability is related to service.

The Board previously granted an increased schedular rating of 20 percent for service-connected right shoulder dislocation prior to September 19, 2013. The Veteran is now seeking an extraschedular evaluation for his right shoulder dislocation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed as bursitis and osteoarthritis, and his bilateral hip condition, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, are related to complaints of pain in active service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and effective date were granted, with a combined 100% rating effective March 21, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities. The issues regarding increased ratings for right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted as it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent within one year of his separation from active duty. The claims for increased ratings for right and left shoulder strain, and residuals of an eye injury are referred back to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant and his representative prior to any decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's low back disability is service connected as a result of an in-service injury. However, his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at his regional office via videoconference. The issues are related to rating evaluations for chronic conjunctivitis and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right ankle disability have been denied. He is currently rated at 20 percent since January 30, 2010.

The Veteran's initial claims for higher ratings for his service-connected musculoligamentous strain of the thoracolumbar spine with multilevel degenerative arthritis, right inguinal hernia status post repair with residual scar, and left inguinal hernia status post repair with residual scar were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the periods in question.,The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain of the thoracolumbar spine with multilevel degenerative arthritis was rated as 10 percent disabling from February 1, 2008 to June 9, 2009 and as 40 percent disabling from June 9, 2009 to March 1, 2010. The Veteran's right inguinal hernia status post repair with residual scar was rated as noncompensable prior to June 12, 2009 and over 10 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left inguinal hernia status post repair with residual scar was rated as noncompensable prior to June 12, 2009 and over 10 percent thereafter.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis, right shoulder disorder, or diabetes mellitus that is related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches. The issues of service connection for residuals of a back injury and total left hip replacement for osteoarthritis are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a right leg sprain, and increased evaluations for PTSD and right knee arthritis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a separate current diagnosis of a right leg disability distinct from his already service-connected right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis and joint degeneration are found to be the result of his combat service, specifically cold exposure and physical activity during his infantry service. The Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and post-operative residuals of ACL reconstructive surgery are related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.