Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination by a medical doctor who has not previously examined him in conjunction with this claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is increased in severity due to his service-connected left shoulder degenerative arthritis and post-operative residuals of a left shoulder putti-platt procedure for recurrent dislocations, with contracture. Service connection for a depressive disorder secondary to these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 20, 2004, March 21, 2005, and June 26, 2008 for service connection of his low back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development and readjudication.

The Veteran is awarded a 10 percent rating for his right knee disability prior to January 16, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied as there is no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or clinical instability, which are required for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU from February 9, 2004; his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc disease has been dismissed as he withdrew the issue before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, allergies, and tinnitus have all been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, right hip strain with degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was granted effective December 2, 2009. The effective date has been extended to include his prior claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The issue will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis requires aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disorders, left knee disorders, right elbow disorders, and left elbow disorders. Tinnitus was also found to have originated during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disorder and granted a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability, but found no evidence of more severe conditions warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain on motion and limited flexion to at worst 55 degrees, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left or right foot disabilities, other than a service-connected right foot callus. The bilateral ankle disability is also denied as there is no evidence of osteoarthritis within one year following service discharge.,There is no competent evidence of a current left foot disability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was and has been manifested by torn meniscal cartilage at the medial meniscus, warranting a rating of 20 percent under DC 5258. The Veteran is also entitled to a separate, compensable evaluation for symptomatic residuals of removal of torn meniscus from October 1, 2011 to January 20, 2013.