Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated as noncompensable from September 3, 2012 through February 3, 2016 and in excess of 40 percent from February 4, 2016.,The Veteran's left heel plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent from September 3, 2012 through February 3, 2016 and in excess of 30 percent from February 4, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of relevant facts and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's back pain is related to his service as an infantryman in Korea, but further examination is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis (also claimed as HLA-B27 arthritis), COPD, and a heart condition. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 27, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for further adjudication of CUE claims. The issues are referred back to the AOJ for initial adjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and right knee strain. The conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right and left ankle pain, with the conditions being productive of functional impairment in the form of difficulty standing and walking, ankles giving way, and ankles locking. The Veteran's current bilateral ankle pain is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and back condition (claimed as secondary to left knee osteoarthritis) have been granted.,Service connection was denied for left ankle osteoarthritis due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current disability is not related to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence after the appeal was filed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no competent medical evidence to show that his current left knee disability is related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, cervical spine disability, ankle disabilities, skin disorder, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Board found that the reduction from a 40 percent rating to a 10 percent rating was improper and restored the prior 40 percent rating as of April 1, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disorder, finding no evidence of a link between his active duty service and his current conditions. The Board also found that presumptive service connection under the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Act was not applicable to his case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure in burn pits and Agent Orange. The issues of heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's left knee disability: an initial rating for osteoarthritis, an initial rating for instability, and a request for an effective date prior to January 3, 2013. The remand includes obtaining updated VA examinations consistent with Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Veteran's initial evaluations for right and left shoulder disabilities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is remanded to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected low back disability and to consider his claim for a TDIU prior to April 28, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine due to insufficient evidence or further development.

The Veteran's hip and knee disabilities have been rated based on their specific limitations, with no additional ratings granted.,No higher rating is warranted for the Veteran's hip or knee conditions.

The Veteran's low back disorder, classified as degenerative arthritis and possibly including disc pathology, is being remanded for further development due to inadequate examination. Additional records are needed, and a new VA examination must be conducted.