Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder and granted a 30 percent evaluation for right shoulder disability. The TDIU issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of recent medical evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee replacement.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis may have had its onset in service, but an additional examination and opinion are needed to determine this definitively.

The Veteran's avascular necrosis of the left hip is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating from May 9, 2006. Basic eligibility for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) is granted prior to August 22, 2012. Appeals for other issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee osteoarthritis, acne, and left knee instability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease/degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board has found additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and C5 vertebral body hypoplastic with congenital fusion of the left lamina of C5 and C6. The claim for service connection will be remanded.

The Board denied a TDIU for the period prior to April 16, 2012, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for digestive system disability including GERD with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for Osgood Schlatter's Disease and Degenerative Arthritis of the left knee due to lack of new and material evidence, as the Veteran's previous claims were based on a preexisting condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination reports and requests for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for a new examination to assess the Veteran's current right knee conditions and their impact on his functional ability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and considering all evidence added since the May 2016 Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, as the October 2014 VA examination may not have fully represented his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability was granted effective May 23, 2013, which is the day following his separation from active service. The claim for an earlier effective date prior to this date is denied as a matter of law due to lack of legal basis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the RO needs to refer the case to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of limitation to midway between side and shoulder level. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating from November 1, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to that date, the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient analysis regarding continuity of symptomatology and the need for a new VA examination.