Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand of initial compensable ratings are all REMANDED due to the need for additional examinations with proper range of motion testing.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee and shoulder conditions were denied. The case was remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his foot and back disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU. Additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions, and all relevant records must be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for low back strain with degenerative joint disease, as his flexion remained above 30 degrees throughout the appeal period. For TDIU, the combined rating of 60% from service-connected disabilities met the threshold criteria but the Veteran was deemed unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as the Veteran failed to report for necessary VA examinations, which are required for proper evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a vestibular condition, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability, including as due to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's current left hip disability is not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis has been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding possible periods of active service.

The Board denied service connection for DJD and OA of the bilateral knees, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for right shoulder strain and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Veteran received a rating of 40 percent for right shoulder strain (dominant) from January 6, 2012 onwards, but her claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the tibiotaler joints is currently rated at 20 percent prior to February 2, 2015, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board has ordered a remand for obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's son, T.S., is seeking recognition as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding his right hip and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA or private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder, finding that her condition is not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and arthritis did not manifest within one year of service discharge. The Board also found that her hip disorder is not caused or aggravated by her service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because there is no evidence showing the condition began during service, and the one-year presumptive period has expired. The Veteran's claim based on ischemic heart disease as a pre-condition also fails.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not granted service connection due to lack of in-service onset or relationship to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction) is denied because the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7006.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and finds that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, L5 spondylosis with associated Grade 2 spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy with bilateral sciatic nerve involvement, and scoliosis convexed to the left, are considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as chronic sciatic nerve) and assigned a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's right wrist posttraumatic degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, effective February 7, 2017. Her right hip trochanteric bursitis remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, has been rated at 20 percent since October 25, 2017. The rating is based on limitation of flexion.