Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left shoulder disorder due to injury at VA facility in July 2007 are dismissed as moot because his right and left knee disorders have been granted service connection.,His claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right knee osteoarthritis is not affected by the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service and was not manifest within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis was not caused by or permanently made worse by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability as the result of his active duty service and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis, status post arthroscopic surgery, has not met the criteria for a higher rating.,Prior to February 25, 2016, the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to allow for further development of the record, including a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and subluxation were granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for the period prior to October 21, 2014.,An effective date of September 9, 2010 was assigned for the grant of a 20 percent rating for subluxation of the left patella associated with osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is service-connected.,Service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the service-connected right knee disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 1, 2011 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was initially evaluated as 20 percent disabling effective October 19, 2015. Radiculopathy of the left upper extremity was also rated at 20 percent effective that date.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis was manifested by severe degenerative joint disease, with significant limitation of flexion and daily flare-ups that were a 10/10 in severity. The Board granted initial ratings of 30 percent for each knee prior to September 9, 2009.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hip and knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated during her active duty service, are not presumed to have been incurred due to a disease or injury in service, and there is no evidence of chronicity after service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle sprain and chronic residuals of a fracture of the left little finger, middle phalanx.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and whether he is unemployable due to this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, effective December 14, 2012.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the ankles results in occasional incapacitating exacerbations, warranting a disability rating of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a claim for a left ankle disability, are denied. The claims were not granted because the evidence did not support the assignment of higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of his claim. He also has separate ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and GERD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Chelsea Naval Hospital and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current nature of any right knee and ankle disabilities. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.