Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right knee strain, including arthritis. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding the alleged stressor.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure and degenerative arthritis in the left knee. Service connection for bilateral hip disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a statement of the case regarding the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis status post meniscal removal, service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine status post L2-L4 laminectomy, service connection right knee mild tricompartmental arthritis, and service connection bilateral hip osteoarthritis. The Veteran has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on these matters.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracic spine disability was granted, with an effective date of December 28, 2016. The current evaluation is 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is caused by or due to his service-connected disabilities of his bilateral lower extremities, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for cervical and thoracic spine arthritis, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability or service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities. Service connection for hypertension was also denied as it was not incurred in service and is not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability does not present an exceptional or unusual picture, and therefore, the assigned schedular ratings adequately reflect his disability level and symptomatology. As such, referral for extraschedular consideration is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease within one year of discharge from service, and the medical evidence did not support a relationship between his military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for tension headaches prior to September 27, 2012; and entitlement to service connection for non-specific dermatitis, claimed as a skin rash; hypertension; insomnia, claimed as sleep deprivation disorder; left ankle osteoarthritis; right ankle osteoarthritis; and erectile dysfunction. The appeal of the issue of an effective date prior than August 20, 2003 for the grant of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale provided in a previous VA examination and for additional development of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spondylolysis, is directly related to his active service. The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran has a current disability that was caused by or aggravated by an incident during service.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities starting from July 18, 2014. His combined disability rating of at least one 40% rated condition and a total schedular rating makes him eligible for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if her left knee disability is secondary to her service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease. His lumbar spine disability has been granted a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the left first metatarsal head with hallux rigidus and residuals of two bunionectomies is granted, with a maximum rating of 30 percent. Service connection for a separate left foot disability (other than osteoarthritis) remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left knee and right hip disabilities, as well as his low back disability and brain disorder, all claimed as secondary to alcohol abuse. The decision found that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link between any such disability and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral knee disabilities did not have their onset in service, were not related to service, or manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including impingement syndrome and degenerative osteoarthritis of the shoulders, left shoulder, lumbosacral spine arthritis, Peyronie's disease with erectile dysfunction, and hypertension, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral knee osteoarthritis is related to military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.