Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent prior to June 14, 2011, and 60 percent from August 1, 2012. The claim for service connection for right knee disability is granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis is rated at 20 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available under VA regulations. The Veteran’s alopecia areata has not been shown to be related to service and remains noncompensably rated.,Service connection for a left foot disability was granted in full.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for instability of each knee, as his subjective reports of instability are considered. The current ratings for patellofemoral osteoarthritis do not account for this instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee conditions, including tricompartmental degenerative joint disease and gout, are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement, partial rotator cuff tear, and arthritis as well as bilateral hip arthritis. The Veteran is also awarded an initial compensable disability rating of 10% for her service-connected anemia.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis have been rated at 10 percent since February 29, 2012. The initial rating period from August 1, 2008 to February 29, 2012 was granted as noncompensable (0 percent).

The Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities as of April 10, 2010. Prior to that date, he was gainfully employed and his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left knee strain was rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 2016. Service connection for costochondritis was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including a review of his education and occupational history to determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected left wrist disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disability have been rated based on their severity, but the right knee has not met the criteria for a higher rating since October 10, 2014. The left shoulder and head trauma disabilities are also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected back condition is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the cause of his death (respiratory failure due to pneumonia) is not linked to his military service. The Veteran did not require aid and attendance solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the local VA Regional Office.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for cervical spine and upper extremity radiculopathy has been denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The current rating of 30 percent for the cervical spine disability remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints/polyarthritis, a cervical spine disability, or a bilateral foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis changes and peripheral nerve deficit of the right extremity was not incurred or aggravated by active service, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active military service. The claims for cervical spine and bilateral knee conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has ordered the case back to VA for additional development due to an inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of engaging in sedentary employment.

The Veteran is seeking a higher initial disability rating for his right ankle disability, which was initially granted in January 2010 with a noncompensable rating. The case has been remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine the appropriate rating.