Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for back and right hip disabilities, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or a direct link to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected left knee brace is granted because he reported damage caused by the brace to his pants, and the evidence supports this.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examinations for rating purposes, and a new examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis, back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were denied service connection as they did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or are otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's brain tumor with loss of balance was remanded for further evaluation due to potential exposure to asbestos during his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused and aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea. The restoration of the 30 percent disability rating for left knee degenerative changes is granted, as are separate ratings for painful limitation of extension of both knees and symptomatic semilunar cartilage removal of the left knee.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease were granted a 30 percent rating effective from February 4, 2016. The other conditions remained denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, and mood disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional records from SSA and NARA need to be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected left ankle degenerative joint disease. The case is remanded for additional development regarding an initial rating for left ankle degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative osteoarthritis, finding that it did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period and was neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected hyperparathyroidism.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and testing.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for torqued sacrum associated with osteoarthritis of lumbar spine and hammertoes. The effective date claim for major depressive disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unanswered medical questions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic criteria.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, low back/lumbar condition, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The denial was based on the lack of evidence showing that his conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder strain was granted effective September 19, 2011. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred after the claim was filed and thus determined an appropriate effective date of September 19, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and work history prior to April 20, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right knee conditions and mental health issues, rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 23, 2016. Effective from that date, she is granted TDIU.