Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with separate ratings for instability and cartilage dislocation where applicable. The RO has granted the requested increased ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective July 27, 2015. His left lower extremity radiculopathy and right knee instability were also granted ratings of 20 percent each effective the same date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee disability and left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, metatarsalgia of the feet, degenerative arthritis of the feet, and tinea pedis (athlete's foot) due to a lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms during or immediately following service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee with an effective date of November 24, 1969. The Veteran's initial disability rating remains at 10%.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the spine was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected and he is currently rated at 30 percent for his right knee disability. The effective dates for the rating changes are specified.

The Veteran's back disability is granted, and his right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck arthritis as secondary to his service-connected myasthenia gravis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep disorder, hearing loss, lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disease L5-S1, right ankle post-operative residuals, traumatic arthritis, and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome to allow for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated as residuals of injury to the left knee requiring surgery under DC 5257, but it has now been rated as internal derangement of the left knee, status post arthroscopic repair for degenerative osteoarthritis of the left knee. The Veteran is in receipt of a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including scheduling new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and obtaining recent medical records.

The Veteran meets the criteria for basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically a TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his active duty service and denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to May 11, 2016 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic left knee disorder existing continuously since service, and the weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current left knee disability was caused by his in-service injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his osteoarthritis of the right knee status post total knee replacement has been granted, with a 60 percent disability rating effective from September 13, 2016. The maximum available rating under Diagnostic Code 5055 is assigned.