Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right knee disorder and back disability, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and are more likely due to natural aging and obesity. The VA examiner opined that the current condition is less likely related to his service-connected neck and back conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic right ankle disability during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current right ankle arthritis does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for vascular impingement, dizziness, and bilateral hip osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald, and for review of additional evidence added since the February 2013 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a video conference hearing. The issues include seeking a higher rating for PTSD, reopening the claim of hip disorder, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee meniscus tear, chondromalacia of the femoral joint, and degenerative arthritis are related to his service-connected bilateral foot disability. The claim is therefore granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not involve the physical loss or permanent loss of use of his hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes to the specified degree necessary for the award of adaptive equipment, scar formation resulting from severe burn injury, or ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, the criteria for entitlement to a certificate of eligibility for specially adaptive automotive equipment or adaptive equipment only have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease, bilateral toe osteoarthritis and spurring are service connected.

The Veteran's combined rating for service connected disabilities was sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU as of May 14, 2010. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is considered to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II with ED.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 14, 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to separate ratings of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left hip disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis, is not related to his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition was caused by non-service-connected avascular necrosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition and right hand injury with laceration are not related to his active service or any period of ADT/IDT. As a result, these claims have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with a rating of 20 percent each effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and left knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating from September 15, 2016 is 80 percent. The competent and probative evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 15, 2016.