Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues currently before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and grants this claim.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, COPD, and small cell lung cancer as the evidence did not support a causal nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, but denied claims for osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. The decision also remanded several issues including the rating of ankle sprains.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for thoracic spine spondylosis and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to outstanding VA or private treatment records.

The Veteran's metatarsalgia and fracture of the medial sesamoid of the right foot first metatarsophalangeal joint with degenerative arthritis are both rated at 10 percent. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and degenerative changes of the right knee, finding that it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are granted as service-connected due to a presumption based on active duty service.

The decision restores service connection for bilateral hearing loss and grants increased ratings for left elbow scar, left knee instability, and remands the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the failure to notify him of his scheduled VA examinations, lack of post-service treatment records, and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's mild osteoarthritis of the left knee is granted as service connected.,Service connection for COPD is denied. The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not related to her military service.,The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) is remanded to determine if it was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion in a previous VA examination. The Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder is being evaluated again to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder AC joint is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to limited range of motion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have had its onset during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine was incurred as a result of in-service duties, specifically parachute jumps. The Board has also granted service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's residuals of frostbite of both feet are considered to have had its onset during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for a back brace from 2015 and 2016 is granted due to credible evidence showing the brace causes wear and tear on his clothes.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans (secondary to coronary artery disease), and hypertension. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.