Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of his claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and ensuring proper notice regarding a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee disorder has been evaluated as status-post right knee meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis, resulting in a 10 percent disability rating. The appeal is denied as the current symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the right hip. The Board finds that the Veteran's current right hip disability is related to his military service, specifically due to repeated impacts from parachute jumps during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities) have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 14, 2015. After that date, his combined disability rating was sufficient for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine fracture with osteoarthritis does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as it is rated at 20 percent disabling and does not result in unemployability due to his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and review of the Veteran's claims file. The issues are whether he is entitled to service connection for his right foot disability and low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the severity and etiology of his service-connected right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, as the December 2011 VA examination may not have accurately reflected the extent of his symptoms and limitations.

The Veteran's left knee disability, specifically degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate based on the flexion and extension limitations not meeting higher criteria.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for right knee disability, bilateral wrist disability and bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability was granted service connection based on degenerative arthritis, but his right knee and bilateral wrist disabilities were not established.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted upon entrance into active service, but did not undergo an increase in disability during service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for his current disabilities.

The Board found the VA examiner's opinion regarding the right knee condition to be lacking in sufficient information to adjudicate the claim, as no baseline level of severity could be identified.,The Veteran's service-connected left ankle condition is not considered to have caused or aggravated his right ankle condition beyond its natural progression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, specifically a motor vehicle accident in 2003. The weight of evidence does not support a finding that the current degenerative arthritis and degenerative disk disease are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability and bilateral knee disorder were not incurred in service, and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected as it existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing and the need to ascertain his current address.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and psychiatric disabilities are service-connected, with no issues remaining unresolved. The hearing testimony and medical records support these findings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for clarification of the nature and etiology of the appellant's left shoulder disability, including whether it is at least as likely as not related to his service or any incident therein.