Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left knee joint osteoarthritis is not related to her military service.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for left knee osteoarthritis from June 13, 2006 to March 3, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the increased initial evaluation issue.

The Board has denied service connection for polyarthritis/fibromyalgia and remanded the claims for a higher rating for DJD of both hips and TDIU. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral ankle disorder, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were remanded in February 2017. The Board has not yet readjudicated these claims and provided a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's right knee arthoplasty and hip osteoarthritis have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee receiving a 60% rating since June 1, 2011. The left hip osteoarthritis has also received an increase to a 50% rating since July 1, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for onychomycosis (claimed as bilateral great toenail removal with arthritis) was dismissed. The Board found a clear and unmistakable error in the April 1998 rating decision that granted service connection for fibromyalgia, assigned an initial disability rating of 40 percent for fibromyalgia, and failed to assign separate disability ratings for the right shoulder disorder, costochondritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Separate disability ratings were granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine arthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for fibromyalgia, right knee disability, and abdominal or gastrointestinal disability. The rating for the left knee scar was reduced from 10% to 0%, effective September 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee and left ankle disabilities, as well as their impact on his employment. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the rating claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relation to his in-service parachute training injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the shoulders and trigeminal neuralgia, were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of the new evidence, which is April 20, 2016.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 40 percent prior to July 16, 2012. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a TDIU for periods prior to September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left rotator cuff tear, and right hip osteoarthritis. The Veteran's symptoms were first noted in service and are considered related to the injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder bursitis with osteoarthritis is granted. The claim for neurological signs and symptoms, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's status post right calcaneal fracture, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right ankle disability. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, including post-traumatic deformity with ununited fracture of the ulnar styloid and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since October 13, 2011. The Board found no evidence to support an increase in this rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right hip degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.