Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board is remanding the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of all currently diagnosed left hip disabilities, including whether they are related to service-connected bilateral foot tendonitis.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 23, 2013 for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a kidney disability remains pending and will be addressed in the remand portion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the feet, as well as his requests for increased ratings and an earlier effective date. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of those already assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion considering the holding in Johnson v. McDonald, 762 F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2014).

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Since July 23, 2007, the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis has been rated at 10 percent. The current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on limited range of motion and painful motion.,The Veteran's left knee degenerative changes have also been rated as 10 percent disabling since July 23, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right and left ankles is related to his active-duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and right knee disabilities are at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by blurry vision, ischemic heart disease, osteoarthritis, prostate disability, or PTSD. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent effective November 1, 2016. The Board finds that a higher rating of 60 percent is warranted from this date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for alcohol abuse prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5258. The Board has determined that the partial knee replacement surgery warrants a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5055, and the case is being remanded for further development including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals, fracture, right ankle, with degenerative arthritis of the ankle joints has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated at 20 percent since January 12, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional VA opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disorder, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral pes planus disability, including degenerative arthritis, is a direct result of his military service, specifically during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining information about medication use prior to a March 2015 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability aggravated his bilateral hip osteoarthritis.