Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and issuing a Statement of the Case regarding his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal all issues related to increased ratings for various knee and spine conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his right knee disability, initially rated as 10 percent disabling prior to September 12, 2011, was granted. The effective date of this grant is December 15, 2010.,A temporary total rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, effective from September 12, 2011, and a permanent 30 percent disability rating were assigned on November 1, 2012. The effective date of this permanent rating is December 15, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and arranging an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for low back disability and sciatic nerve impairment of the right lower extremity, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. He is now in receipt of disability compensation for his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and for additional development of the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, right knee degenerative arthritis, and hypertension.,There is no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to March 18, 2011.

The Veteran does not have a bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, or chronic anaphylactic reaction to bee sting due to service. His claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for schizophrenia, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, or osteoarthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Appellant is seeking to appeal these decisions as accrued benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since June 8, 2011.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine, right hand, and bilateral feet manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after separation from active service. The Veteran does not have hypertension which had its onset in service or within one year of his discharge from active service, or which is otherwise related to a period of active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye, bilateral hip, and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee condition and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his degenerative arthritis, left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the service connection of his left hip disability, including whether it is secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pending issue regarding the offset of disability pay, and other issues remain unresolved.