Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's left knee disability received an increased rating to 30 percent effective September 20, 2007. The right knee disability received an increased rating to 60 percent effective February 1, 2011.,Both knees have been rated based on the severity of their respective disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and reviewing the claims file to ensure all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes degenerative arthritis and internal derangement with residual weakness, is currently rated at 20 percent. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's range of motion was limited to 120 degrees for flexion and 85 degrees for abduction, but did not find additional limitation in range of motion following repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and degenerative arthritis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the appellant for examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including DJD and post-AVL tear, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has not granted any higher rating as the evidence does not support such a finding.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, avascular necrosis, is proximately due to his service-connected HIV. The Veteran's depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been rated as 50% since July 8, 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent and severe audiologic results yielding a noncompensable rating.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis to include medial joint compartment narrowing has been granted.

The Veteran died of cardiorespiratory arrest due to chronic debility, with underlying osteoarthritis. The cause of death is not service-connected and there was no qualifying service for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's DJD of the right and left knees had its onset during active service, and the Board has found that the criteria for establishing service connection are met. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a comprehensive VA internal medicine examination to determine the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including strain with osteoarthritis and instability, has been rated at 20 percent since August 7, 2014. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for service-connected pseudofolliculitis and status post left inguinal herniorrhaphy have been withdrawn.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of a right shoulder disability or a left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical/thoracic spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The right shoulder and right ankle disabilities remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle and left (minor) shoulder osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher schedular ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's bursitis of the bilateral hips and osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella have been rated at 10 percent, but do not meet criteria for higher ratings.,For his right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's right knee instability has been rated as 20% disabling, and his left knee disability (post-traumatic osteoarthritis) has been rated as 60% disabling. These ratings are effective from March 28, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board also found that the April 1993 rating decision denying service connection for a right knee disability did not contain CUE.