Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a neck disability is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted by a January 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal to increase his rating for a lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and strain has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and potentially associating SSA records with the claims file.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for left knee and right lower leg disabilities were denied as they are not shown to be related to service.,Service connection was also denied for chest pain and a rash on the face, with no indication of any presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic sinusitis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis, which are required for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, diagnosed as bilateral acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is caused by or the result of injuries sustained due to his service-connected bilateral pes cavus. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's low back pain syndrome and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis were evaluated, with the Board finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 20% for the low back condition and 10% for each knee condition prior to specified dates.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen any previously denied claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip disorders, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the right and left hips, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The examiner noted that these conditions are more likely related to his 1970 automobile accident during active duty training.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right elbow and right elbow ulnar neuropathy were denied. The RO found that prior to June 29, 2016, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, and from June 29, 2016, it did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. For right elbow ulnar neuropathy, prior to October 1, 2015, the Veteran's condition was rated as mild incomplete paralysis (10%); from October 1, 2015, it was rated as moderate incomplete paralysis (30%).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to January 5, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the spine, is granted. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses for a left wrist disability, right wrist disability, or right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining all outstanding service treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his current right shoulder disability is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower extremity and right hand disabilities, finding that new evidence received since the January 2010 rating decisions relates to unestablished facts of current disabilities. The Board then finds that the Veteran's right ankle osteoarthritis with impingement syndrome is related to his in-service injury during football play, and thus service connection is granted based on a presumption of service connection for arthritis. Service connection for residuals of a right hand laceration with scar is also granted as the evidence shows it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis was granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent, effective June 13, 2017. The left foot disability was also granted an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his bilateral knee disabilities. The RO must also consider the propriety of assigning a temporary total rating for convalescence under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 and the applicability of Diagnostic Code 5055 in light of the Veteran's June 2017 total left knee replacement surgery.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service connected as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiner found it less likely than not related to service.,The Veteran's left knee disability is not service connected due to lack of a nexus between his current condition and service. The VA examiner opined that the current condition was less likely than not incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without showing good cause.,All of the Veteran's increased rating claims are denied due to his failure to report for the necessary examinations.