Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence following left foot surgery have been denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 21, 2008, for the grant of service connection for sinusitis has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is service connected as it is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increase ratings on the issues of left hand weakness, left wrist fracture residuals, left shoulder DJD residuals and left hip arthritis prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for morbid obesity, as well as his claims for an effective date prior to May 30, 2003, and TDIU are all granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 80% disability rating for arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and cervical spine osteoarthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied her claims.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly compensation based on his cervical spine disability. The current condition was not incurred during or as a result of active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of his hearing preference and subsequent scheduling. The issues include rating adjustment, service connection claims, and reopening of previous claims.

The Veteran's right hand disability is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5215. The Board finds that a higher or separate rating for ankylosis of any involved joint is not warranted as there is no evidence of such.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with total knee replacement, including secondary to a service connected left knee disability. The evidence submitted was found to be cumulative and not material.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, and a TDIU has been granted effective from June 30, 2011.

From September 18, 2009 to May 20, 2014, the Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent.,From May 20, 2014 to December 15, 2016, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for right shoulder osteoarthritis and maxillary sinusitis with retention cyst have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if there are any errors in the current ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address whether the Veteran's service-connected right leg disability aggravates his left hip disability. The case is REMANDED for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy of the lower extremities.