Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action, including a TDIU referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is associated with painful motion of the joint, which warrants a 10 percent rating prior to November 1, 2013. On and after November 1, 2013, he is entitled to a 10 percent rating for limitation of extension.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lay statements indicating that he was diagnosed with polyarthritis in service are not supported by the medical evidence, and thus does not meet the second element of service connection (in-service event, injury or disease). As such, service connection for the claimed disabilities is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and finds that he is entitled to this benefit based on evidence showing a current disability, in-service injury, and a causal relationship between the two.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right upper extremity disability is being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of separate ratings for any identified attendant manifestations.

The Veteran's cervical spine degeneration has been rated as noncompensable prior to October 26, 2012, and 10 percent thereafter. He is also granted separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities associated with his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of September 25, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities. He was also granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for combined ratings in excess of 20 percent for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show an increase in disability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to properly notify the appellant of her scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding issues related to PTSD and nervous condition, as well as scheduling another Board videoconference hearing.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal due to satisfaction with her current 100 percent combined disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and osteoarthritis of the hands have been rated appropriately, with a TDIU granted effective from September 9, 2009.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, and the issues of service connection for right clavicle condition, TBI residuals, hearing loss, foot spasms, cervical strain, and depression are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine and lumbosacral strain disabilities have been denied. The current rating of 10% for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine is maintained, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for the issues of increased ratings for right knee chondromalacia, right tibial plateau lateral meniscus, postoperative residuals and right knee degenerative arthritis (instability).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the scheduling of VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, detrusor instability, interstitial cystitis and tri-compartmental osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to have its onset during active service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis with impingement syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent since October 23, 2014.