Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hip condition, and neck condition. The examiner will need to provide opinions regarding whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's original claims for service connection were filed on November 9, 2010, and granted by a May 8, 2012 rating decision. The effective date of these grants is set at November 18, 2010. The Veteran argued he should have received an earlier effective date based on his belief that he would have filed for service connection prior to November 9, 2010, if not for erroneous advice given during his separation physical examination in February 1961. However, the Board determined there was no evidence supporting this claim and denied the request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions have been evaluated based on their current functional limitations, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, and she has been granted a TDIU based on her service-connected orthopedic and neurological disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for a left fifth (little) finger disorder to include left carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis, which he claims was caused by negligent treatment at the Syracuse, New York, VAMC in March 2009. The Board has ordered additional development of his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of multiple joints and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 5, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences that could be related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine due to new evidence received since the July 2008 denial. However, the Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any in-service injury.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a low back disability or PTSD incurred in service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence supports the award of a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including meniscectomy and arthritis, was rated at 10 percent prior to July 26, 2011. From September 1, 2012, the Veteran received a 30 percent rating for his total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left knee and hip osteoarthritis have been withdrawn. The appeal regarding the increased rating for a herniated disc L5/S1, status post laminectomy, is being remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, which is now granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The current right knee degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) was caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating, and sciatica of both lower extremities are each rated at the maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10% each, based on painful motion with x-ray evidence of arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis and patellofemoral chondromalacia of the right knee, finding that it is likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's low back pain with degenerative changes was found to not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 10 percent since February 22, 2007. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.