Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's right knee torn lateral meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament are currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 12, 2013. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for right knee instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chronic sprain is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected right and left shoulder strains with degenerative arthritis have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was initially rated at 20% prior to October 2, 2001 and has been rated at 30% since September 17, 1998. The effective date for service connection of depressive disorder including PTSD is set at September 17, 1998.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his abnormal mitral valve with congested heart failure and multiple knee injuries, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 26, 2013. Since then, he has been in receipt of special monthly compensation (SMC) due to aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's death was due to his service-connected conditions, but he had a pending claim for nonservice-connected pension at the time of his death. The evidence showed that he met the requirements for non-service connected pension and thus qualified for burial benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine osteoarthritis and degenerative disc and spondylosis of the thoracic spine do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. However, due to his combined disability rating of 90 percent and the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and tinnitus, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and left hip disabilities are not service-connected as they have not been shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right knee disability have been granted and maintained. He is currently rated at 20 percent for instability of the right knee since April 24, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, including degenerative arthritis and Achilles tendonitis, did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his right knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 27, 2014 and since then.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 11, 2009. The claim for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise with regards to whether the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis is related to an incident during his active duty service in September 1976. Service connection for a right knee disability, including subluxation, has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right lower extremity disorder, to include 'sciatic-like' pain, secondary to degenerative arthritis, post dislocation of the right ankle with torn ligament.