Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, including degenerative arthritis, is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by rotator cuff injury, impingement syndrome, and degenerative arthritis, warrants a rating of 20 percent for the entire time period on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disorder and headache disorder are related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of a connection. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective September 8, 2009. The Board also granted separate ratings of 10 percent for radiculopathy in both lower extremities from January 14, 2010.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability and lumbar strain. The case has been remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether these conditions aggravate each other.

The Veteran's low back disability, neck muscle spasms, and radiculopathy of the hips are all found to be related to his service-connected conditions. His bilateral hearing loss is also found to be related to noise exposure in service.,The right shoulder condition is not found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with left hallux valgus and osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal was granted an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to February 28, 2013, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The disability is rated under Diagnostic Code 5276 for acquired flatfoot with marked deformity.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is currently rated at the maximum allowable under current rating criteria. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, including hammer toes and degenerative joint disease, are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating, and his right elbow disability does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating. The appeals are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease with low back strain, right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion, and right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension. The evidence did not support granting higher disability ratings.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder osteoarthritis was granted, with the effective date being prior to August 23, 2010. The claims for service connection for low back disorder and skin disorder were reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial in September 2008.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a spine disorder, which he asserts was caused by an in-service fall and heavy lifting. The case is being remanded to attempt to locate the Veteran's service treatment records at a Philadelphia warehouse and obtain his unit history records from the First Battalion Ninth Marines, First Marine Division.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's sinus condition, right and left shin splints are still pending issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination. The Veteran has not missed any other examinations before or since these knees.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right knee, left knee, and right hip osteoarthritis have been granted at 10 percent each. The Veteran is also rated separately for limitation of extension in the right hip (rated as a separate condition). The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent, with no higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or other specific criteria being met. The Veteran's left lower sciatic nerve neuralgia has not warranted a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right hip disorders did not have an onset in service or within one year after separation, and the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that they are related to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for automotive assistance and adaptive equipment was denied as she does not meet the criteria for loss of use of one or both feet due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,It was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's right knee sprain with instability and left knee sprain with instability increased to a 10 percent disability rating prior to November 24, 2008.,The Veteran's left osteoarthritis acromioclavicular joint with subacromial bursitis is manifested by limitation of motion at shoulder level but not anklyosis. The effective date for the 10 percent rating remains unchanged as it was granted on July 10, 2009.,The Veteran's Achilles tendonitis with osteoarthritis, right ankle and left ankle are both currently rated at 10 percent and have no evidence of ankylosis or other significant impairment. The effective date for the 10 percent ratings remains unchanged as they were granted on July 10, 2009.,For the entirety of the period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.