Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was granted effective December 2, 2009. The effective date has been extended to include his prior claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The issue will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis requires aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disorders, left knee disorders, right elbow disorders, and left elbow disorders. Tinnitus was also found to have originated during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disorder and granted a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability, but found no evidence of more severe conditions warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain on motion and limited flexion to at worst 55 degrees, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left or right foot disabilities, other than a service-connected right foot callus. The bilateral ankle disability is also denied as there is no evidence of osteoarthritis within one year following service discharge.,There is no competent evidence of a current left foot disability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was and has been manifested by torn meniscal cartilage at the medial meniscus, warranting a rating of 20 percent under DC 5258. The Veteran is also entitled to a separate, compensable evaluation for symptomatic residuals of removal of torn meniscus from October 1, 2011 to January 20, 2013.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis with effusion is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from February 13, 2017. The Board has determined that separate evaluations for limitation of extension and flexion are warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The left knee degenerative joint disease is pending as remanded.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected right tibia and fibula disability, finding that his condition involved slight to moderate knee and ankle disability at most.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not pre-exist his active duty service and was not related to it. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition is more likely due to natural progression of the condition over time, rather than military service.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of the evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to November 4, 2015 and at 40 percent thereafter. The hearing loss rating remains noncompensable (0%). The allergic rhinitis is also noncompensable.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical intervertebral disc syndrome and left upper extremity radiculopathy have not met the criteria for higher initial ratings under either the General Rating Formula or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder and granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic sciatica during or after service, and the current disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of any benefits.

The Veteran's back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 8, 2017. Effective that date, he is granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatica and left lower extremity sciatica as neurological manifestations of lumbar spondylosis.