Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether they are related to his low back disability. Additionally, a TDIU claim will be considered.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for increased evaluations of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right elbow bursitis, tinnitus and right ear hearing loss prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury and an increased rating for degenerative arthritis (cervical spine) are denied. The claim for a compensable rating for status post left testicular varicocele surgery with residual scar is also denied.

The Veteran's left knee patella tendonitis, chondromalacia, torn lateral meniscus, and osteoarthritis are the result of injury incurred in service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and his lumbar spine disability prior to October 26, 2009, is also rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's bronchial asthma has been increased to a 60 percent rating effective December 14, 2013.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since July 25, 2013. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is related to his active service, and the Board finds that reasonable doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee condition is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is related to service, including a fall in service.

The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus disability is manifested by pain that causes mild to moderate functional impairment, warranting a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a video conference hearing as requested in his August 2009 VA Form 9. The RO must reschedule the Veteran for a hearing at his local RO using his most recent address of record.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including joint pain, impaired balance, muscle pain, and neurological symptoms of the upper and lower extremities, are not related to service. The Board finds that service connection is not warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee disability, including osteoarthritis. The issue will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability, and the Veteran does not have a compensable evaluation for his lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and providing the Veteran with an addendum medical statement on his claimed conditions. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated following this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and right ankle disability are etiologically related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage are separately rated at 10% each, with the instability being associated with his service-connected fractures and meniscal tear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and right great toe disabilities have been denied. The criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent for any of these conditions were not met.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and osteoarthritis of the left knee was granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for bilateral pes planus effective May 12, 2004. The 30 percent rating for left knee disability was also granted effective July 1, 2014.

The Veteran's severe osteoarthritis of the right knee is currently rated at 30 percent, and his instability of the right knee is rated at 10 percent. The current evaluations are appropriate based on the criteria for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of frostbite on hands and feet, and an anxiety disorder (claimed as depression) secondary to the service-connected back injury with degenerative arthritis. The claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected back injury was also denied.