Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left knee conditions prior to June 13, 2011 and since August 1, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the appellant's current bilateral foot disability, characterized by plantar fasciitis, calcaneal spurs, and degenerative arthritis, was caused or aggravated by his active service. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, finding that there was no evidence of complete paralysis or other signs of severe incomplete paralysis. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current right knee condition, including osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease with loose bodies of the anterior knee, is related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current disability in any of these conditions as per VA standards. For PTSD, the Board found that the Veteran's stressor was credible and linked to his military service. However, for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's back disability has been rated at 20 percent since April 10, 2017. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, finding that his symptoms were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions. The Veteran was also unable to establish a diagnosis of CFS based on the submitted medical articles.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right elbow tendonitis and epicondylitis were aggravated during active service.,The Board also finds that the Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and biceps bursitis were incurred in active service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for both his heart disability and arthritic condition claims. The Board found no current diagnosis of a heart disability, and the Veteran did not have an arthritic disorder that began during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee degenerative arthritis are granted, with effective dates set at October 5, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is not related to her in-service injury and therefore denied service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and congenital cataract in the right eye, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized by degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, has been rated at the highest available level of 40 percent since February 23, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to separate compensable ratings for instability of his right knee, as there was no indication of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability during the period on appeal. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent effective April 16, 2007. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability, other than anterior compression fractures at T12-L1, did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be related to active duty or secondary to a service-connected condition.