Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disorder is not related to his service-connected right shoulder injury and therefore denied both issues on appeal.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability. The VA examiner found the condition less likely due to service, but did not consider his statements of continuous physical training during service and recent treatment records from 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not etiologically linked to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee replacement received a one-year evaluation of 100 percent following the revision surgery on October 20, 2005. The remaining issues are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis left foot injury and degenerative arthritis of the left ankle are rated at their maximum under VA rating criteria, with no additional issues regarding service connection or TDIU.

The Board granted separate initial ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee instability, but denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his degenerative arthritis.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, cervical degenerative arthritis with spondylosis and right arm radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of the arms, wrists, and hands did not manifest during service or within one year after separation from service. The evidence also indicated that these conditions were not related to service. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed lumbar spine disorder or residuals of a partial right parotidectomy, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back disability, heart condition (hypertension), diabetes type II, and Parkinsonism. The Veteran's private physician provided opinions linking these conditions to his military service. However, dyslipidemia is not a qualifying disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's musculoligamentous strain of the thoracolumbar spine with multilevel degenerative arthritis was evaluated at a 10 percent rating from August 1, 2010 to December 14, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep disorder are all found to be related to service. The lumbar degenerative joint disease, myofascial cervical syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis and ligamentous instability, and right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis and ligamentous instability have been granted initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 1, 2010. The cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, effective October 14, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left elbow degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service traumas.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's left knee condition, manifested by painful motion and flexion between 125 and 130 degrees with extension to 0 degrees, warrants a 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 4.59.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since July 26, 2016. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including scheduling the Veteran for an examination to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.