Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, effective from the date of the remand in November 2016. The decision also includes separate ratings for limitation of flexion and extension.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and depressive disorder are sufficient to warrant a TDIU rating. The effective date for this rating is pending further action.

The Board found no evidence of a current right or left arm condition, lumbar spine condition, or skin condition (pseudofolliculitis barbae) related to service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected blepharospasm is rated at 30 percent, the highest available under VA rating criteria.,The Veteran's service-connected spasmodic dysphonia is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the necessary criteria for a higher rating based on her symptoms.,The Veteran's service-connected spasmodic torticollis of the cervical spine with degenerative arthritis is also rated at 10 percent, which is the highest available under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right hip degenerative arthritis, snapping iliotibial band syndrome has been dismissed as the claim was withdrawn by her attorney. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip as secondary to a service-connected right knee condition. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic otitis media have been denied. The claim for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current back disabilities are not related to his service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for the right elbow and increased ratings for the neck. The Veteran's appeal of hearing loss is denied as his puretone thresholds do not meet VA criteria for a disability. The claims for increased ratings for the right shoulder and feet, as well as sinusitis with headaches, are remanded due to lack of proper procedural steps.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations for her service-connected left knee and back disabilities have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of a higher evaluation based on the current criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, as well as additional pertinent records from VA and private sources.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for his left and right ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatica were denied. The effective date was not established as the issues are related to the current disability status.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by a labral tear and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5201. The evidence does not support an increase in the rating beyond this level.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current left knee tricompartmental osteoarthris and right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis are related to service, with the right knee disorder being aggravated by his now service-connected left knee disability.