Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as there is at least a 50% likelihood it was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for his service-connected low back disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, and his left shoulder disability warrants a rating of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been increased to 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right shoulder disability or entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, with the highest rating of 60 percent for his right knee status post total replacement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The effective dates are April 14, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including a lumbosacral strain, chronic low back pain with osteoarthritis and L4-5 spinal stenosis, had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeals for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease L5-S1.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals for lumbar sprain and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to his service connected left leg disability. The increased rating claim for internal medullary rod screws fixation for comminuted left tibia and fibula fracture is remanded, and the compensable rating claim for costochondritis requires additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities warranted a rating in excess of 60 percent.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU, effective December 2004.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement surgery, was granted a higher rating of 60 percent effective March 23, 2017. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus disability, post-resection of the metatarsal head with Chevron osteotomy and K-wire removal, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition has been manifested by intermittent painful motion and tenderness, antalgic gait, but no occasional incapacitating exacerbations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render her unemployable prior to July 31, 1996. The Board found that the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis were not met.

The Veteran's lower back and right knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the lower back disability receiving a 20% rating since July 26, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold criteria for entitlement to a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and it is not factually ascertainable that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and bilateral knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral shoulder bursitis, hip condition, left knee bursitis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have all been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, cervical spine, left hip, and right hip are all granted.