Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since April 9, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms of his PTSD meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating but not a higher one.

The Board denied service connection for right hip and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to concerns raised in the Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) and lack of compliance with the Court’s holding in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for chondromalacia of the left knee and right knee with osteoarthritis prior to January 6, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease related to his current condition.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded the issues of rating left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to December 10, 2013. A separate 10 percent rating for painful limitation of extension of the right knee is granted from December 10, 2013 to January 10, 2015. From January 11, 2015 onwards, a 40 percent rating for total right knee replacement is granted.,Throughout the appeal period, left knee arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, lumbar spine arthritis, and depression. The Veteran's disabilities were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's right knee condition is related to an in-service injury, but his left knee condition is not. The Board also requested additional opinions regarding whether the left knee condition is secondary to the right knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left hand, right hand, and right foot hallux valgus. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was granted, with an effective date of April 20, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the right knee from August 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018. The claims for increased evaluations of the left knee and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability ratings for posttraumatic osteoarthritis, right ankle with shin splints and tibial exostosis, and right knee osteoarthritis. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spinal stenosis, L3-L4, with displacement and degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and was not aggravated.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims of in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability was denied as his current diagnoses are not related to his period of active service.,The Veteran's right shoulder reconstruction surgery rating was also denied, with the RO granting him a 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.