Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disability of the lumbar spine, diagnosed as chronic strain and degenerative arthritis with left lower extremity radiculopathy, is due to injury in service. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, was incurred in active service. However, it denied service connection for COPD (claimed as residuals of bronchopneumonia, left lower lobe) due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to his active duty noise exposure.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to Agent Orange exposure remains pending as requested information regarding proximity to herbicides was not obtained.

The Board has determined that there is at least equipoise evidence to support the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back, and thus grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his right knee disability, ensuring all pertinent private treatment records are associated with the file, and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a TDIU being awarded due to his service-connected disabilities. The other claims remain pending and require further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was cardiopulmonary arrest and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS and polysubstance abuse, is related to his active duty service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous instructions and for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, and his knee disabilities were denied increased ratings. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is found to be proximately due to her service-connected left ankle disability, and thus granted secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's claimed hypothyroidism and right knee condition. The evidence does not show a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted an increased rating to 30 percent from September 21, 2012 to September 15, 2016. The issues of a separate rating for brachial plexus neuropathy and TDIU were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the nature of his spine disability, skin conditions, and peripheral neuropathy. The examiner is asked to determine if any current disabilities are related to active service or aggravated by a congenital defect.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's ratings for bilateral knee disabilities from 30 to 10 percent was improper and restored the original 30 percent ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected bilateral postoperative calcaneal fractures, right foot and left foot, with degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been productive of painful motion throughout the appeal period, warranting an initial rating of at least 10 percent effective November 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder osteoarthritis is less likely as not caused by or a result of his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to December 13, 2011.