Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a more detailed opinion regarding his ability to work and the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employment.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal calculi and kidney cysts had their onset in service, and his degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right hip are aggravated by his service-connected chronic muscular strain superimposed on degenerative instability with sciatica. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right wrist disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to May 12, 2014 and from May 12, 2014 onwards.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disability is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for her lower back disability.

The Board denied extensions of temporary total evaluations for left knee surgery and increased disability ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities. The Veteran was granted separate disability ratings for right knee subluxation, but his request to increase his rating for left shoulder degenerative osteoarthritis was withdrawn.

The Veteran's right knee instability and traumatic osteoarthritis have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria, with a 30 percent rating for each condition since October 25, 2010.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are related to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis with low grade multilevel lumbar degenerative retrolisthesis L5-S1 and right L4-5 neural foraminal stenosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his in-service assault and denied service connection for residuals of a lumbar spine injury.

The Board has determined that the VA examination in May 2011 was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran has a fallen arch of the right foot, its etiology, and whether it is related to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right ankle.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder arthritis and dismissed the appeal regarding a left hip disability, as well as other issues. The Veteran's current left hip osteoarthritis is being remanded for further development to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the feet and tinea cruris were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left tibia fracture with left knee traumatic arthritis is found to be the primary cause of his chronic low back strain, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and preparation of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC). The claim will be reconsidered, and if still denied, he will be provided with the SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IgA glomerulonephritis, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The reductions of the disability ratings for the service-connected left knee unicompartmental arthroplasty with osteoarthritis and residual scar, the service-connected left knee limitation of extension, and the service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy are void ab initio. The 20 percent rating for the service-connected left knee unicompartmental arthroplasty with osteoarthritis and residual scar, the 10 percent rating for the service-connected left knee limitation of extension, and the 10 percent rating for the service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy are restored as though the reductions had not occurred.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, chondromalacia and meniscus tear. The Veteran's skin disabilities of the bilateral feet, including trench foot, are also found to be related to service. Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease with hearing impairment, vertigo, and tinnitus is rated at 100 percent. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.