Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death, and he was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis during active service. The Board finds in favor of granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee condition was aggravated by his active duty service, and thus service connection is granted for posttraumatic degenerative arthritis of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle osteoarthritis is not etiologically related to his in-service left ankle injury while playing basketball, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied. The right knee disability is rated at 20 percent from February 13, 2012 to November 30, 2014; 30 percent from December 1, 2014 to September 2, 2015; and 60 percent thereafter. The left middle finger disability is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated as 10% each for instability, with a separate 10% rating assigned for limitation of flexion in the right knee and pain on motion in the left knee. No higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip and leg numbness and pain, now claimed as pain in right side of the body. The preponderance of evidence shows that his current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claims. The Board also found that there was no link between the current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the spine with scoliosis and L4-L5 spondylolisthesis, lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and nerve impairments was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions and further examination is required.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence or argument linking any of the claimed disabilities to service, and thus service connection for osteoarthritis, hypertension, upper respiratory tract infection, COPD with chronic bronchitis, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease cannot be established.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder, but assigned no effective date as the evidence does not indicate a clear date of injury or onset.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for PTSD on the basis of CUE and earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for various conditions was dismissed because his substantive appeal was not timely filed.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and extension, was rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of leg flexion. The claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board found no evidence of a lower back condition during or within one year after service, and the Veteran's current condition is not shown to be related to his military service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted, with an effective date of August 9, 2016. The claims for service connection for radiculopathy and TDIU were also granted, with effective dates of February 26, 2010.