Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee patella alta with chronic recurrent subluxation was incurred in service and her osteoarthritis is secondary to this condition. The appeal for service connection of the knees is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's plantar fasciitis is related to service, while his degenerative arthritis and hallux valgus are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any injury or incident in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip disorders are not related to service or his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities, thus denying both claims for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and bilateral lower extremity chronic venous insufficiency were denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly considering the impact of opioid use.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected pes planus. The claim for a neck disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis has been rated at 40 percent since July 14, 2008. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms including pain, stiffness, swelling, instability, fatigue, and lack of endurance.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent prior to September 6, 2016 and 10 percent thereafter. His lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board granted the increased rating for his right knee degenerative joint disease and denied the TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, sinusitis, amenorrhea, gastrointestinal disability, hemorrhoids, and headache disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia and PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and knee conditions are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including scheduling an examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and left shoulder disabilities, obtaining VA treatment records, providing VCAA notice regarding a claim for TDIU, and readjudicating the issues in light of all evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, residuals of injury, right leg and hip due to a lack of evidence showing that his condition was incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was not shown to result in limitation of motion that is objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion prior to August 16, 2011. Therefore, a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis with disc degeneration is rated at 20 percent, effective April 16, 2009. The right knee and ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions and disorders, but the Board is remanding these cases due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and low back disorders are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee disorder, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of recent evidence.