Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to service, and the Board finds that it was not incurred or aggravated therein.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities of the lower back, hips, and knees. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess these conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective December 5, 2011. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's left thumb disability, characterized by degenerative arthritis and loss of grip strength, warrants a 10% rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not service-connected.,From August 12, 2009 to March 14, 2011, the Veteran received a rating of 20 percent for his right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis as these conditions were aggravated by the appellant's service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 30 percent was maintained for the relevant periods.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to May 22, 2017 and is currently denied for a higher rating. The left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 10 percent prior to February 25, 2015 and is currently denied for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient examination and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the left ankle disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 16, 2003. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment on an extraschedular basis effective April 16, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to June 11, 2015. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against a finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination for his lumbosacral spine traumatic arthritis and an SOC regarding the restoration of a 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the right thumb.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left foot disability, including neuropathy and other related conditions, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current diagnoses and his period of active service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective May 24, 2017. The left knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for osteoarthritis, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the ankles, edema of the lower extremities, gout and/or gouty arthritis, and a right ankle sprain. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of osteoarthritis and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are related to his active service, including a one-time injury during service. As such, the criteria for presumptive service connection have been met.