Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service or within one year after service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee degenerative arthritis as well as atopic dermatitis prior to February 13, 2015, and on or after that date have all been denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The earlier effective date claim for the right shoulder rating has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation. The Board finds the Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms to be inconsistent.,The Veteran's lower back and left hip disabilities are not considered to have been incurred in service due to a lack of continuity of symptomatology, as there is no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within one year after separation. The Board also finds that the Veteran did not seek treatment for his current right elbow disability until 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, osteoarthritis of the hips and knees, degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy, have rendered her unable to work due to functional limitations. The Board finds that further examination is needed to assess these effects on employment.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, effective from December 22, 2009. The effective dates are based on the date of receipt of the new claim or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, undress, or bathe himself as a result of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of L1 fracture with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating as there were no findings of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for traumatic osteoarthritis and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot hallux valgus, osteoarthritis, and plantar fasciitis as secondary to his service-connected left knee meniscectomy. The VA examiner found no credible nexus between these conditions and the service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's back condition is granted as service connected.,Hypertension, claimed as high blood pressure, is denied as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to her service-connected bilateral lower extremity stress fractures and there was no evidence of a nexus between the two conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right knee disability as it found that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and symptomatology.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for degenerative arthritis of the neck, residuals head injury (including headaches and dizziness), and radiculopathy of the upper extremities. The reasons are that the Veteran was not provided a Statement of Case in response to his Notice of Disagreement, and potentially favorable evidence related to these claims is intertwined with his headache claim.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, IBS, and a left knee condition are granted. The lower back, bilateral shoulder, and neck conditions remain pending as the evidence is not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress, undress himself, keep himself clean, adjust prosthetic appliances, feed himself, attend to the wants of nature, or protect from hazards. The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disorders, as well as lumbar and right knee osteoarthritis, have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,For the period prior to September 8, 2017, the Veteran’s lumbar osteoarthritis was not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.