Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent since January 16, 2014. The current rating is appropriate as the evidence shows limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a combined rating in excess of 30 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was also remanded as it is unclear whether the Veteran meets the threshold requirements for schedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional evidentiary development, including a VA SMP aid and attendance/housebound examination. The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound will be assessed based on his current disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including a rotator cuff tear and osteoarthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. Osteoarthritis is also not presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including residuals of fistula surgery and osteoarthritis, as well as his skin disorder (including seborrheic keratosis and actinic keratosis), are all found to be related to service. The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disabilities are not etiologically related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are not proximately due to or worsened in severity beyond normal progression of the respective disease by the service-connected cavus disease of the feet.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between his current osteoarthritis and his in-service injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot cyst and left knee disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. For the lumbar spine disorder, the VA examiner concluded that the condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right and left knee strains, and bilateral hip strains are related to service. The Veteran's current foot disabilities (right metatarsalgia and left pes valgus, plantar fasciitis) are also found to be related to service.,The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right hip strain, left hip strain, and right foot disability (metatarsalgia), as well as left foot disability (pes valgus and plantar fasciitis).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent from April 15, 2010 to June 26, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under diagnostic codes 5237 and 5242.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, and generalized arthritis (gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis) have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for these issues during a July 2017 Board hearing.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent for both knees, with no additional issues related to service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back disorders are related to his active service, including a car accident and football injury during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from a qualified physician to address the Veteran's lay assertions regarding abnormal gait caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and left knee osteoarthritis were denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees or a combined range of motion less than 120 degrees.

The Veteran's left knee meniscectomy with osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 9, 2009. The Veteran's hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis and duodenal ulcer remains rated at 30 percent.