Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the majority of issues related to his bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, right knee disability, back disability, and left knee disability. The case is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and degenerative arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence does not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is etiologically related to his military service. The Veteran meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disability was evaluated as 20 percent disabling prior to June 27, 2013, and 40 percent thereafter under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. For migraine headaches, a very frequent, completely prostrating attacks productive of a severe economic impairment were established beginning December 26, 2013. The hypertension was not shown to warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

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

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Veteran's single documented in-service injury did not result in chronic symptoms and he was not diagnosed with arthritis within one year of separation from active duty.

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

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 5, 2017 and 20 percent from that date. The evidence does not support a higher rating for the period before or after this date.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, effective from the date of the remand in November 2016. The decision also includes separate ratings for limitation of flexion and extension.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and depressive disorder are sufficient to warrant a TDIU rating. The effective date for this rating is pending further action.

The Board found no evidence of a current right or left arm condition, lumbar spine condition, or skin condition (pseudofolliculitis barbae) related to service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected blepharospasm is rated at 30 percent, the highest available under VA rating criteria.,The Veteran's service-connected spasmodic dysphonia is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the necessary criteria for a higher rating based on her symptoms.,The Veteran's service-connected spasmodic torticollis of the cervical spine with degenerative arthritis is also rated at 10 percent, which is the highest available under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right hip degenerative arthritis, snapping iliotibial band syndrome has been dismissed as the claim was withdrawn by her attorney. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip as secondary to a service-connected right knee condition. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic otitis media have been denied. The claim for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current back disabilities are not related to his service and have denied his claim for service connection.