Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU. The SMC based on loss of use claim is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in multiple joint disorders and obstructive sleep apnea have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right knee contusion with severe end stage osteoarthritis before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30% prior to December 10, 2008 and after February 1, 2009.,The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30% prior to October 22, 2008 and after December 1, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are at least as likely as not related to his active service, thus granting service connection for both knees.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability was reopened and granted, as the evidence now shows that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and considering all relevant evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee, effective August 26, 2011. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his post-operative internal derangement of the left knee was denied as there is no evidence of moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his functional impairments are not severe enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for hemorrhoids and GERD have been dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus has been partially granted with a 10% rating prior to February 27, 2018, but denied thereafter. Appeals for wrist disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and cervical spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine; right thigh disability; and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for osteoarthritis of the left knee and instability of the left knee are being remanded due to new evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with low back pain and osteoarthritis is being remanded for a new examination to determine its current severity. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left great toe ulcer and subsequent amputation, foot ulcer, segmental joint dysfunction and lumbago with sciatica, left knee osteoarthritis, left ankle degenerative joint disease, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as secondary to his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity within one year post-service and no competent medical opinion linking his current condition to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorders due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to clarify the nature and severity of his service-connected conditions, specifically PTSD and brain trauma residuals.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis prior to March 22, 2011 and from March 22, 2011 to May 12, 2015 due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the increased rating claims.