Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected IVDS was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent on a schedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left shoulder disabilities did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation, nor are they causally related to his military service. The VA examiners concluded that there is no evidence of chronicity of these conditions post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee laxity and instability have been denied, but he is granted a separate 10% rating for each knee since December 4, 2014.,He has also been granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis associated with chondromalacia patella.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent prior to June 11, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression disorder has been granted a 30 percent rating, effective October 29, 2011.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective March 29, 2011. The rating for frostbite of the left foot remains at 30 percent. Separate ratings were assigned for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and Raynaud's-like vascular disability of the left foot.

The Board has determined that a current right hip disorder is related to the service-connected right knee disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional attempts at obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement was January 31, 2011.,VA regulations do not allow for an earlier effective date for hepatitis B as it did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation prior to January 31, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the hips, finding that there was no nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthropathy has been evaluated at a 20 percent rating since March 17, 2006. The evidence does not support an increase in the disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not related to his service-connected knee disorders and therefore, denied the claim for service connection. The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine to his service-connected knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, effective September 21, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to his military service and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right hip condition and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, which is secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability, has been remanded due to the need for additional development and an opinion regarding whether any current right shoulder disability is related to service or pre-existed service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is attributable to service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right knee, but denied an increased rating for his lower back condition.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with the conditions found to be directly related to his military service. His ankle and foot disabilities are also considered service-connected.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings due to lack of evidence showing additional functional loss or impairment beyond what is already compensated by the current disability ratings.