Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for the claims of higher ratings for his knee and foreleg conditions. The Board found in favor of service connection for a low back disability, with the evidence being at least in equipoise as to whether it is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the second finger in the right hand, finding that symptoms began during service and have continued to the present day.,Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and spinal stenosis, is not etiologically related to his active service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the Veteran's right hand disability and a need for further examination.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered in connection with the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities, and the Board is dismissing these claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on all issues related to his service-connected conditions, with no new evidence provided that would warrant reopening the claims.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his bilateral knee conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that either condition warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her permanent and total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-service treatment records and providing a new VA examination.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella, manifested during his military service and is etiologically related to his service. The sinus disability, including allergic rhinitis with superimposed acute sinusitis, also manifested during his military service and is causally related to his service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine are related to his active service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for certain issues, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting a new VA examination to assess his right wrist injury. The TDIU claim will also be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis status post total knee arthroplasty is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis. The rating for the right knee disability remains at 30 percent prior to October 30, 2012, and a separate 10 percent rating has been granted for instability of the right knee since that date.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Adjudicate the issues of entitlement to an effective date prior to March 19, 2003, for the grant of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss; if the benefits sought cannot be granted, issue a statement of the case in accordance with applicable law and regulations. (2) Obtain VA treatment records from September 2014 to the present. (3) Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his service connected residuals from a lumbar spine herniated disc with degenerative arthritis. The examiner should determine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has a neurologic disability impacting either of his lower extremities that is the result of his service connected back disability. (4) Then readjudicate the appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since October 1, 2014. The rating is based on arthritis and symptomatic residuals of a meniscectomy.