Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right shoulder and hip disabilities have been granted initial ratings of 20% and 50%, respectively, for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral late effect of femur fracture, left knee enthesopathy, and bilateral hip osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right ankle disorder underwent an increase in severity during service, and thus service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran with appropriate specialists to determine the current severity of his unspecified depressive disorder and bilateral tricompartmental osteoarthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his bilateral knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his obstructive sleep apnea, are all related to service. The claims for increased rating of restrictive lung disease and special monthly compensation have been remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, and impingement of shoulders. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right thumb disability is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a new examination and review of his medical records.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at a minimum of 10 percent since March 1, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating or separate compensable ratings for his right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and PTSD. The AOJ will also issue a supplemental statement of the case if any benefits sought remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her claims, including obtaining SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition was aggravated by service, and thus service connection is granted for his right knee osteoarthritis status post meniscal repair, to include a right knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and the nature and etiology of his claimed back, right knee, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability, including right femoral exuberant osteophytosis and osteoarthritis, is attributable to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted, with the initial rating of 40 percent assigned for residuals of a compression fracture of the T-12 with osteoarthritis as of January 13, 2017. The radiculopathy claim was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% due to total occupational and social impairment. Service connection for hypertension, cardiovascular disability (Congestive Heart Failure), and lumbar spine disability are denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and his military service. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to assess whether there is a causal link between his current disability and his in-service period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the knees and migraine headaches have been denied. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for lower back disorder, radiculopathy in each leg, but her appeal does not include these issues.

The Veteran's right foot disability was found not to be related to service, and his claim for costochondritis is remanded due to conflicting evidence.