Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD and Osteoarthritis have resulted in a TDIU since August 21, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals were partially granted, with some issues receiving increased ratings and others remaining unchanged or denied. The effective dates for several grants of service connection are set to June 18, 2012.

The Veteran's left knee condition is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that his range of motion does not warrant a higher rating due to pain and functional loss. The appeal was denied as there was no evidence of two or more major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations.

The Veteran's claim for left clavicle fracture residuals and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis was reopened, with the former granted based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The claim for DM was also reopened, but denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of PTSD was dismissed. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is granted as service connected due to a combat injury during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for permanent chronic pain, permanent nerve condition and bowel damage has been dismissed.,Service connection was denied for degenerative arthritis of the neck and spine due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims and subsequent submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is found to be related to service and granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and chronic gastrointestinal disorder due to new evidence received since the last final decision. The rating for lumbosacral strain remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and degenerative arthritis of the spine have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a disability rating of 50 percent for the residuals of a gunshot wound of the left buttocks.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was denied. The claims for higher evaluations of left and right knee osteoarthritis were also denied, but the case is remanded for further evaluation on some issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of causation or aggravation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right hip osteoarthritis due to inadequate examination in November 2013, and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and PTSD and anxiety disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded an initial 50 percent rating for his PTSD and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities due to insufficient examination reports and opinions addressing functional loss during flare-ups.