Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was found to meet criteria for a 10 percent rating from November 1, 2006 to February 25, 2010.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for headaches and a 10 percent rating for the lower back disability prior to June 30, 2016. From June 30, 2016, the Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease with osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and degenerative joint disease/osteoarthritis of the whole body, were denied as there is no credible evidence supporting his assertions of in-service exposure to herbicides or captivity as a prisoner of war. The Veteran's statements are found to be unreliable due to inconsistencies with other evidence of record and facial implausibility.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection of left knee instability. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates based on the evidence of record.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosed osteoarthritis in bilateral knees is not related to service and thus denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent for degenerative arthritis and a separate 20 percent rating for instability since February 7, 2017. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected osteoarthritis with chronic strain of the lumbar spine and associated right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that arthritis of the spine, mild scoliosis, and lumbar disc herniation were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's low back disability is considered a congenital defect and was not shown to be aggravated during service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated based on the criteria in the rating schedule, and no extraschedular evaluation is warranted. The Board has granted a TDIU effective prior to April 20, 2015.

The Veteran's right hand disability is manifested by functional limitation and decreased range of motion in the right thumb, warranting a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 5309-5220. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his right knee and left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised by the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (secondary to diabetes and/or PTSD), alcoholism (secondary to PTSD), joint pain (including fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis) (secondary to PTSD), gastrointestinal condition (secondary to PTSD), initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD have all been denied. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent for complaints or findings of hearing loss, asbestosis, hypertension, alcoholism, joint pain, gastrointestinal condition, diabetes mellitus, or CAD.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was not shown during service or for years after service, and the weight of the competent, probative medical opinion evidence on the question of medical nexus to service weighs against his claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for cervical strain, a higher rating for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, and TDIU as the Veteran withdrew her appeal. The issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran is unemployable due to her right knee disability for the entire appeal period.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for the total right knee replacement due to chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis, effective April 21, 2015. A separate 10 percent rating was also granted for chondromalacia of the left knee prior to April 21, 2015, with a separate compensable rating for flexion since that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with IVDS, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and right knee instability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.