Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Board granted service connection for major depression with PTSD and assigned a 50% disability rating effective October 31, 2008. Service connection was also granted for rheumatoid arthritis and/or osteoarthritis of the feet, hands, ankles, wrists, hips, and shoulders. The effective dates were not specified as they are pending.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, and additional treatment records should be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic jaw disability, Q fever, osteoarthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has restored the appellant's 50% disability rating for his service-connected left knee condition, effective March 1, 2012. The right knee issue remains unresolved and TDIU is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the fingers and toes should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding his claimed in-service frostbite.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder osteoarthritis, and right shoulder osteoarthritis are all found to be related to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a corneal abrasion and a lumbar spine disability, are not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his case is evaluated on an extraschedular basis due to unemployability caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right leg/knee disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during his period of honorable service or within a presumptive period. The current conditions are also not shown to be related to his period of honorable service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, various diagnosed psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, right thigh compressive neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chondromalacia and osteoarthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 50% disabling.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of left shoulder disability and granted it on the merits, finding that a current diagnosis is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional treatment records. The issue of rating his right ankle disability remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities based on direct service connection. The Veteran now has a full grant of benefits sought.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a groin disability and denied service connection for secondary hip, ankle, and tendonitis disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional VA examination records and determine if there are any new symptoms or increased severity of his left ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed knee disabilities are not related to his service and denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right hand, small finger condition and finds that it is at least as likely as not that the current condition was incurred in or caused by an injury during active duty service.