Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis and arthritis, as well as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a new opinion on his ability to function in an occupational environment due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine DDD and left upper extremity radiculopathy was granted, with the effective date being September 3, 2008. The assigned ratings are 20 percent for cervical spine DDD and 40 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has determined that he is entitled to TDIU benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee lateral meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions are as likely as not related to active duty and to service-connected left knee chondromalacia. The Veteran's gastritis is also found to be incurred during active duty.,Right hip disability was not found to be secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence of a right leg disability or arthritis in service, and the current conditions are not otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding private treatment records and clarification on whether the Veteran wishes to withdraw her claim for service connection of bilateral shoulders.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The evidence does not support a higher rating as it does not demonstrate additional functional loss or impairment beyond what is contemplated by the current 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension are not service-connected. The claim for prostate cancer was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders are not related to military service.,Regarding her fibromyalgia, the VA examiner found no history of evaluation, treatment, diagnosis or chronicity of symptoms for fibromyalgia during military service. The examiner also found she currently does not meet the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis, effective April 24, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his military service.,His low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and osteopenia with discogenic disease at L5-S1, is also likely related to his service-connected left knee disability. His acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD) is linked to his now service-connected low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and shoulder disorders. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are pending and will be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for the residuals of a left eye injury and assigned an initial disability rating of 60 percent effective March 11, 2016. The Veteran's condition was characterized by incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks over the past 12 months.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst with residual scar does not warrant a compensable rating as it is currently asymptomatic and does not cause significant functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hypertension and left shoulder deltoid atrophy with degenerative arthritis and axillary nerve palsy was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, as his diastolic pressure has never been predominantly 110 or more. For the left shoulder condition, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher evaluation based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left hip osteoarthritis and consideration of entitlement to TDIU.