Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted. The claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, as well as for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spines is found to have caused his diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral elbow disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to insufficient opinions provided by previous VA examiners.

The Veteran's left knee condition is being remanded for a new opinion on whether it is related to her service-connected non-union, right tibial tubercle. Her rating for the non-union, right tibial tubercle is also being remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was granted, with a 30 percent rating assigned for residuals of the left knee gunshot wound and osteoarthritis of the left knee. The ankylosis of the left knee is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's dishonorable discharge from active military service. The tinnitus claim is granted, but other conditions are being remanded for further review.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and chronic depression (secondary to bilateral knee osteoarthritis) must be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted. The increased rating for lateral instability of the left knee and separate compensable rating for residuals of dislocated cartilage of the left knee are granted, effective June 9, 2016. The issue of entitlement to a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability is remanded. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a foot disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10% prior to January 23, 2015. From that date forward, the rating is increased to 20%. The decision also addresses left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 4, 2013 to July 22, 2014. A TDIU is granted for this period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as the Board cannot make a decision on an extraschedular basis without further review by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of degenerative arthritis and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and major depression associated with lumbosacral strain with right sacroiliac joint dysfunction and degenerative arthritis, status postoperative are granted. The Veteran's left hip condition and right hip joint condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability has been reopened and granted. His PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from February 13, 2015. The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and denied the claim for a disorder manifested by pain and tightness in the head and neck, including tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, IVDS, cervical spondylosis, cervical degenerative disc disease, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and a dental disability (claimed as mouth injury). Service connection was granted for diabetes, with the eye condition being considered secondary to diabetes.,Service connection was established for diabetes based on evidence showing exposure to diesel engine exhaust and obesity during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, is etiologically related to active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for arthralgia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.