Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, left ankle and foot, gout, eye conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and major depressive disorder. The appeals were based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but denied service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities as well as left knee and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that new VA medical examinations are required for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a thoracolumbar spine disability and traumatic brain injury due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee status-post ACL reconstructive surgery was granted with an effective date of March 26, 2007. This decision is based on a line of duty determination letter from November 6, 2008.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for myelitis (claimed as Guillain Barre syndrome), migraines, a low back condition, left knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis, and right knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis. The appeal is not about the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss or service connection for malaria.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for hypertension and remanded the service connection claims for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, and he is now granted secondary service connection for a right shoulder disability due to his cervical spine disability. The rating for ocular rosacea with chronic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and dry eye syndrome remains at 10 percent. A separate rating of 20 percent is granted for bilateral lacrimal duct disorder. Other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear are rated at 10 percent, with a separate 20 percent rating for dislocation of the semilunar cartilage. The criteria for higher ratings are not met.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current condition of his service-connected right knee disabilities, including instability and functional loss.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of both knees due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to assess whether his condition warrants an increased rating.

The Board has not decided the service connection for hypertension, but has remanded the rating claims for right knee instability and degenerative arthritis. The claim for reopening of service connection for hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, healed surgical incision, fracture residuals with degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for chronic right hip strain with sclerosis of acetabulum was granted, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's initial claim for limitation of extension of the right hip was also granted, and he received a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for recurrent left shoulder dislocation with Bankhart lesion and degenerative arthritis is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded due to the inextricability of the issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. The Veteran reported worsening symptoms since a previous examination in April 2014, including difficulty getting up from the bathroom, locking knees, falling due to instability, and using a wheelchair.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the right foot at first metatarsophalangeal and distal interphalangeal of the second toe is granted. The appeal regarding entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for low back degenerative disc disease is remanded.