Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's neurological disability of the lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service and insufficient credible lay evidence to establish continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is proximately due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and denied an increased rating for left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right leg disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the right knee, was not incurred during active service or due to a service-connected condition. The claim for higher rating for his right ankle disability was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for patellar tendonitis and osteoarthritis, but the evidence does not show that her range of motion has been limited to a degree warranting an increased rating. The sacroiliac tendonitis issue remains unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral calcaneal spurs, and bilateral plantar calcaneal spurs. Service connection for RA is denied as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right knee is not related to his military service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their service-connected nature, with the right knee receiving a rating of 10 percent effective March 17, 2004. The left knee has received separate ratings for its different conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis was manifested by limitation of flexion and painful motion prior to October 4, 2013. The Board found the criteria for an initial 10 percent disability rating for residuals of a right knee injury for the period prior to October 4, 2013, have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion and slight instability, warrants a separate rating of 10 percent under DC 5257 for the period from April 13, 2015. The current 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis remains unchanged.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Veteran's lower back disability was rated at 20 percent from January 23, 2008 to May 28, 2008. After that period, the rating remained at 20 percent until August 31, 2008 (post-surgery convalescence). The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent prior to December 7, 2009 and at 40 percent from December 7, 2009. TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and DJD, right Achilles tendonitis, and left ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.