Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for lumbar strain and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. Service connection was also denied for a cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to service or any other condition.

The Board has remanded several issues including earlier effective dates for service connection and initial compensable ratings for knee conditions, as well as a service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, bilateral knee, and chronic fatigue syndrome have been denied.,PTSD was not diagnosed or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the initial ratings for right and left knee joint osteoarthritis. The Veteran's conditions are currently rated at 10% each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected limitation of flexion, left thigh, with osteoarthritis resulted in loss of function due to painful motion and required the use of a cane all the time. The Board granted a 10 percent rating for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder conditions, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current shoulder conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus. Service connection is remanded for osteoarthritis of the feet, hammer toes, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS is currently rated at 20 percent from September 26, 2017, forward. The Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted for this period based on the evidence of record. However, the claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent prior to September 26, 2017, remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a previous meniscectomy, is rated at 60 percent from September 1, 2013 to February 10, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his anxiety disorder and physical disabilities such as knee pain and shoulder impingement syndrome, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not related to his military service and do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to January 2, 2013.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective October 23, 2010 and dismissed the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the origins of his left arm carpal tunnel syndrome and the severity of his left shoulder disability, as well as the need to obtain additional VA and private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the left and right lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for erectile dysfunction was reopened, but not granted due to lack of evidence showing it is proximately caused by or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for osteoarthritis (right knee) is remanded.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for instability of the left knee associated with residuals of left knee degenerative arthritis and a medial meniscus tear, status post meniscectomy. The Veteran's service-connected left ankle traumatic arthritis is rated as moderate.

The Veteran's low back disorder is service connected as lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, which has been attributed to his current diagnosis and in-service treatment for back pain.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, effective October 8, 2013. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to January 30, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis is rated at 40 percent effective September 14, 2017. Ratings for left and right lower extremity numbness and weakness remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for a disorder of the right great toe, claimed as gouty arthritis, and residuals of a right ankle fracture due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.