Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion to address whether any currently diagnosed right and/or left knee disorder preexisted service or is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for his right knee, bilateral hearing loss, deviated septum, pes planus, or hammer toes.

Service connection for a right hand/wrist disability is denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or immediately following service.,Service connection for a left hand/wrist disability is denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or immediately following service.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or immediately following service.

The Veteran's right knee has been rated at 60 percent since May 1, 2015 due to chronic residuals following total knee replacement. He also had a rating of 30 percent for recurrent subluxation and instability from August 1, 2009, until March 11, 2014, and 20 percent for dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of locking and effusion since May 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and aortic stenosis were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), residuals of a left arm injury with history of cubital tunnel (left arm injury), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and tinea cruris were all service connected. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically right and left meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 8, 2016. The criteria for higher ratings are not met.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple knee and back conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all claims.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis post total hip arthroplasty is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the left knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee osteochondroma is granted service connection, with the current arthritis considered to be unrelated to his active duty.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 10 percent for each foot (left and right) with plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis, effective March 1, 2012. The evidence supports the assignment of these ratings based on moderate symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claims are granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and other conditions. The appeal is based on new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right knee, finding it attributable to service. However, the left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the spine was assigned a noncompensable rating prior to December 18, 2017, and a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Board has determined that a 10 percent rating is warranted for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and found that the Veteran's left knee condition is at least as likely as not related to his active service. The earlier effective date claim was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis did not begin during or as a result of his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at the maximum for cartilage, semilunar, dislocated, with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion into the joint. The claim for increased rating has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing an adequate VA examination to rate the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and adjudicating his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been evaluated based on their current functional limitations, and no higher ratings are warranted as the evidence does not show limitation of motion or instability that would justify a rating in excess of those currently assigned.