Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back strain with degenerative disc disease, left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, right foot traumatic arthritis with pes planus, left foot traumatic arthritis with pes planus, right hip degenerative arthritis, and left hip degenerative arthritis, meet the minimum combined rating criteria for a TDIU since February 27, 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his tinnitus, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis of the left hip.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess her lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left hip disorder.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, meeting the criteria for this rating level.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no current conditions that met the criteria for service connection, except for migraine headaches and erectile dysfunction (ED) with Peyronie's disease.

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's 10 percent disability rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee pursuant to Diagnostic Code 5257 and amended the diagnostic criteria used to evaluate this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, headaches, left shoulder disorder, left arm disorder, and chest pain are all related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's knee and back conditions have been evaluated, but the Board has determined that none of his claims are supported by sufficient evidence to warrant a grant of benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case to provide a VA addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine caused or aggravated his neck disability. The appeal is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for asbestos exposure, a left knee disability, and the reopening of service connection for blurred vision, bronchitis, right tibial stress injury, and hearing loss of the right ear are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of his incarceration status. The claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle and HIV-related illness will be reconsidered in light of all new evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective from November 2, 2007 to the present. The residuals of his right inguinal hernia repair with testicular pain are also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to assess the current severity of his PTSD, low back disability, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee synovitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an examination and addendum opinions to address the relationship between his service-connected right shoulder disorder and his left shoulder degenerative joint disease and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and posterior trunk scar were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the claim that service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death, finding that other factors such as diabetes and tobacco use were more likely primary contributors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disorder, including his right hip replacement, is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The Veteran's right hip disorder was not incurred in active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.