Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumber spine and osteoarthritis of the right knee with meniscal tears and chondromalacia, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's left knee and left middle finger disabilities have been granted increased ratings, but the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating actions due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board found that his osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including dislocated semilunar cartilage and osteoarthritis, are rated at 20 percent effective September 17, 2007.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including dislocated semilunar cartilage and osteoarthritis, are rated at 20 percent effective September 17, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and left ankle osteoarthritis, are deemed to preclude him from following substantial gainful employment. The Board has remanded the matter for further consideration by the Director of Compensation Services.

The Veteran's gout and hypertension were denied as they are not shown to have begun during service or be related to service.,Service connection for weight gain was denied as it is not a compensable disability. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the knees were also denied, with ratings remaining at 10%.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the right knee is remanded due to insufficient information regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to her service-connected PTSD, and the Board finds that it was aggravated by this condition.,There is no direct evidence linking the left knee disability to service. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of osteoarthritis but no in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran was granted a rating of 60 percent for his right total knee replacement since September 13, 2017. He is not entitled to a higher rating as the one-year period following the surgery has expired.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the spine due to insufficient evidence in the claims file, particularly regarding recent medical records.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection and an effective date of July 6, 2012.,An unspecified anxiety disorder is granted service connection with an effective date of July 6, 2012.,GERD is granted service connection with an effective date of May 4, 2015.,The Veteran's left wrist disability and right foot and left foot frostbite residuals are remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.,Right foot and left foot frostbite residuals with degenerative changes are also remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as obstructive sleep apnea and unspecified depressive disorder are granted service connection on a secondary basis due to their association with his service-connected left foot disability.,Service connection for the Veteran’s right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, hypertension, and tinnitus is denied.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and SSA disability determination records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that her current condition is not related to service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to her service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability and for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the index and long fingers of both hands. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability is remanded, as well as the issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip condition, testis atrophy complete, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's service connection claims for herniated disc, lumbar spine and thoracic spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder degenerative arthritis and rotator cuff tear, bilateral ankle disability, and left flatfoot (pes planus) have all been granted. The initial ratings are 10% for rib pain status post fracture, with no higher.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis and that the condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on incapacitating episodes.