Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the TDIU was denied as there is no evidence of any earlier unadjudicated formal or informal claim prior to September 18, 2006 and no factually ascertainable evidence demonstrating entitlement to TDIU prior to March 24, 2010.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis are less likely than not caused by or resulting from military service, including his receipt of anthrax vaccination in February and March 2003.,The VA examiner also concluded that there is no link between the Veteran's anxiety disorder and his military activity (including as due to the in-service February and March 2003 anthrax vaccinations), nor can it be made with regard to aggravation of his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective date for the award of service connection is April 20, 2012. The Veteran's claim was received on this date and he did not have a pending, unadjudicated claim prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right great toe degenerative arthritis and hallux rigidus are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records. The right knee disability will be re-evaluated based on current symptoms and limitations.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee condition warranted a separate 20 percent disability rating for meniscal tear, effective January 24, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issue on appeal is whether he should receive an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his left knee condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his healed right ankle fracture with residuals of pain and locking, are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left lower fibular fracture residuals with left ankle traumatic arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for calcification of the left medial collateral ligament was granted. However, his claims for a compensable rating for instability of the left knee and TDIU prior to April 23, 2015 were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for the year beginning August 1, 2013, and concluding on July 31, 2014 is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding the type of knee brace used during this period.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) of the right and left ankles were not found to be service connected, as they did not manifest within one year of active service or are otherwise etiologically linked to any incident of active service. The Board also found that the current diagnosed conditions are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee with early osteoarthritis of the medial compartment is granted, as it was initially denied in December 1991 and later reopened on November 30, 2007.

The Veteran's increased ratings for her left knee chondromalacia patella and right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis were granted, but the rating for the latter condition was increased to 20% effective May 4, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability is caused by his service-connected low back disability and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to the service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating prior to August 16, 2011, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was denied by the Board. The appeal is based on his complaints of pain and stiffness without evidence of limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stomach and eye problems, as they are not related to his service or a service-connected disability. The other issues on appeal have been addressed but no rating assigned.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees and a low back disability as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, as well as his left shoulder disability are all found to be related to service.,For the ankle disabilities, the Veteran's right ankle gout is found to have preexisted service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of his left knee disability has been granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260. The rating includes consideration of the Veteran's post-operative symptoms and instability.