Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected status post laminectomy with advanced osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 15, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining post-service medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine strain, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for service connection for dyslipidemia and bilateral hearing loss disability have been granted. However, the claim for hypertension (to include as secondary to IHD) has not been resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not on a period of authorized travel to duty in February 1964, when he claims he was struck by a car and injured. As such, his current left hip, left fibula, and left shoulder disabilities as well as his left leg lumbar radiculopathy, TBI, and headaches are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and updated treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and found that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his period of active service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, is found to be related to her service due to repetitive use during active duty and Reserve service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection and the Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for thyroid cancer secondary to asbestosis, entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability, entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for posttraumatic arthritis of the bilateral thumbs are addressed in the Remand section.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected lumbar spine and hip disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and right foot disability are not related to service or his service-connected disabilities, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 40 percent. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected spine and right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to August 20, 2012, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The condition is not service-connected based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, arthritis of the left foot, and tarsal tunnel syndrome of the right ankle. Service connection was granted for hemorrhoids, but with a non-compensable evaluation. The Veteran's right foot arthritis and surgical scars were also not granted increased evaluations.

The Veteran's increased ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities were granted, but the appeal remains in appellate status as maximum schedular ratings have not been assigned.