Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding an increased rating for PTSD and granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The Veteran died from a closed head injury, which was found to be substantially related to his pre-existing conditions including chronic osteoarthritis, hip pain, and back pain.

The Veteran's ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were restored to 20 percent effective September 1, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and back conditions, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gout affecting his ankles and knees, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral degenerative discogenic disease, hypertension, eczema, left occipital neuralgia, plantar fasciitis of the left heel, osteoarthritis of the left first metatarsophalangeal joint, right thumb residual fracture fragmentation, internal hemorrhoids, and status post neoplasm excisions of the large intestine, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions claimed as resulting from exposure to herbicides, including diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, bilateral hand disability (dupuytren’s contracture), blindness of the left eye, tinea pedis, hiatal hernia with gastric nodule and erosive duodenopathy, bilateral leg pain, bilateral arm pain, and bilateral foot pain. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, right foot degenerative arthritis with hallux valgus, bilateral cataracts with dry eye syndrome, and a right eyelid scar. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran would have been in receipt of a TDIU for at least 10 years preceding his death due to service-connected PTSD, had the effective date of his TDIU not been incorrectly assigned. The Board has now granted entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether rheumatoid arthritis was proximately caused or aggravated by left knee osteoarthritic changes, including any medication used for treatment.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's stroke residuals are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's left knee disability due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervicalgia with bulging disc and DDD, as well as scoliosis, DDD and DJD with arthritic changes prior to June 12, 2015 were denied. The criteria for these conditions have not been met.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent since December 6, 2017. The claim for an initial evaluation higher than 20 percent is denied. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating prior to December 6, 2017 is remanded due to lack of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia and tinea versicolor are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,Service connection for left groin nerve damage (claimed as left inguinal hernia repair) is granted. The Veteran has sensory impairment, tenderness, and pain as residuals of his left inguinal hernia surgery.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder strain, erectile dysfunction, chronic pain disorder, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, diverticulitis with hiatal hernia and GERD, Barrett's esophagus, and hypothyroidism are all remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for Barrett's esophagus is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his right knee, right thigh injury, and right ear hearing loss disabilities. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any marked deformity, inward displacement of the tendo achilles on manipulation, or swelling on use and characteristic callosities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraines has been reopened and granted. The claims for increased ratings for hypertension, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and plantar fasciitis are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine with left rhomboid strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his range of motion and muscle spasm do not warrant an increase to any other rating.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, heart murmur, and secondary polycythemia have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for secondary polycythemia.,Service connection is denied for cervical spine disorder, heart murmur, and wrist osteoarthritis (secondary to carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the threshold percentage requirements to establish eligibility for TDIU, but his unemployment is due to non-service connected PTSD.