Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee instability was granted, and he is currently receiving a 30 percent evaluation. The claim for a compensable rating for his left knee osteoarthritis prior to January 29, 2001, has been granted, with the effective date set at that time. However, the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee osteoarthritis after January 29, 2001, remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is likely the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain was withdrawn by the Veteran, and the claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of bilateral hands and fingers remains pending.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left hip disorder, including left hip osteoarthritis and total hip replacement. The Board has expanded the claim to include entitlement to service connection for a left hip disorder as shown on the title page of this decision. However, due to lack of in-service injury or disease related to parachute jumps during his first period of service, the Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to increased ratings for her service-connected left knee disability, right rotator cuff tear and repair with osteoarthritis, and residuals of a Baker's cyst of the left knee. The appeals were not granted as the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for new examinations and clarification of previous opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine osteoarthritis caused or aggravated his current hip, shoulder, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left hip disability, prior to March 6, 2014, was rated at 10 percent due to limited motion. Since May 1, 2015, the disability has been rated at 30 percent following total hip replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to be 90 percent disabling, but they do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left foot sprain, finding no evidence of chronic disability related to the in-service injury. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection for bilateral knee replacements.,The Veteran's current left foot conditions (calcaneal osteotomy, degenerative arthritis, and plantar heel spur) were not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examinations and failure to provide adequate reasons and bases for its determinations regarding neurological conditions associated with his lower back condition.

The Veteran's claims for left and right knee disorders were denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for cataracts, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease have been granted with effective dates of June 21, 2010.,Service connection for PTSD was granted on October 1, 2010, with an effective date of January 20, 2011.

The Veteran's low back disability was initially rated as non-compensable prior to April 16, 2012. Beginning September 18, 2014, the disability is rated at 10 percent based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU and basic eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 16, 2013 and granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage. From January 1, 2015, the Veteran is now rated at 60 percent for status-post total left knee replacement.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits under Chapter 31 of Title 38 was denied because she is already employed in an occupation consistent with her abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the proximate cause of his death was an unforeseeable event (developing ileus), which occurred during post-operative care at VA. The Board finds that neither the service-connected disabilities nor any other condition contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from his primary care physician and orthopedic specialists. The case will be readjudicated after the requested information is obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for TDIU and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.