Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent from March 1, 2002 for right knee osteoarthritis, status post total right knee arthroplasty to the VA Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that new and material evidence was received. The claim is granted as it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed multi-joint disability, including gout, bilateral hand and hip conditions, is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back pain and degenerative disc disease have been rated at 60 percent since April 16, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues related to service connection due to the lack of evidence supporting these claims. The Board found that there is no current disability, and no link between any claimed conditions and active military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted with an effective date of January 2006, the day after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing medical records and addressing his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left hip replacement are not service connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, and there is no evidence linking them to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis was found to meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating from February 15, 2006 to March 11, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and a left eye disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,There is no credible or probative evidence showing that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis or left eye disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection was granted, with a 60% rating assigned for residuals of right knee replacement since May 1, 2010. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU from May 1, 2010 to July 14, 2014.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a separate 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on additional functional loss or instability.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected PTSD. The issue of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the hands, wrists, knees and feet, is related to cold weather injury during service in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as his symptoms do not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and TDIU as there was no competent evidence linking his current disabilities to his active service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral leg disability, claimed as legs giving out, is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral leg disability other than osteoarthritis of the right knee. Service connection cannot be granted because there is no evidence showing that her lower extremities gave way in service or within one year thereafter.