Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The reduction in disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was upheld, but the Veteran withdrew his claims for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a bilateral knee injury during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in 1977, and thus could not establish service connection for a current bilateral knee disorder or degenerative arthritis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left elbow disability, gastrointestinal disorder, and sleep apnea are not service-connected. The left elbow disability is not related to service or aggravated by a service-connected right forearm disability. The gastrointestinal disorder was pre-existing but did not worsen during service. Sleep apnea may be secondary to a service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran's right foot disability, specifically the great toe osteoarthritis, has not met the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 20, 2016. Since then, she is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5284.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability and right wrist disability are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's SNPA is not proximately caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately caused by her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 7, 2014, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability rating and eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance benefits was granted. The appeal is denied as there was no valid notice of disagreement filed in connection with the August 2011 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to the Veteran's left knee and ankle disabilities, including a need for an updated VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability was not incurred in or caused by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by chondromalacia and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. Effective December 2, 2009, a separate 10 percent rating for subluxation has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acromegaly was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied his claims for secondary hip and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right hip disability. The Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the right hip is found to be caused by his service-connected right knee disability, warranting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and granted it, finding that there is at least as likely as not that his current osteoarthritis of the right knee is related to his active service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back condition and pulmonary disorder, including bronchitis and COPD, are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, right foot disability, and right ankle injury are all related to his service. The appeals for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's arthritis and obtaining all available VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is related to an injury sustained during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.