Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left ankle sprain. The effective date is set at December 3, 2015, which is when the Veteran submitted a new claim for an increased rating for his right ankle sprain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence after his last Statements of the Case. The claims for higher initial ratings and increased rating will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher evaluation of his service-connected left knee disability, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches and remanded the issues of an increased rating for lumbar spine disability, service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and leg disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of a ruptured appendix is remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for respiratory disability, claimed as hay fever, secondary to mustard gas exposure, is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability due to an inadequate opinion from the October 2016 VA examiner. The examiner did not consider all diagnoses and failed to discuss the in-service injury.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right and left knee instability, separate ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee meniscal injuries, initial compensable ratings for right and left great toe degenerative arthritis, and remanded issues regarding ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left ankle disabilities have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and lumbar disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica pain. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be at least in equipoise with the opinions against his claims, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded two claims for additional development: one regarding a lower back disability and the other regarding squamous cell carcinoma located on the left side of the nose. The decision on whether service connection is warranted remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been properly evaluated, and additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right hip fracture has been reopened and granted. The claims for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and right ankle arthritis are still pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and instability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since January 26, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU rating on both schedular and extraschedular bases.

The Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees was denied as his knee disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot disabilities, finding no causal relationship to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction, as it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities. The diagnoses include lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral syndrome and strain in the left knee, and supraspinatus tendinosis and posterior labral tear in the left shoulder.