Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Board also found that the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis in the thoracolumbar spine is not related to his service, including as secondary to his service-connected healed coccyx fracture with cococcygodynia residuals.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to her service-connected PTSD and left knee osteoarthritis, with a combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their functional impairment, with the right and left knees each receiving a separate rating for lateral instability. The RO has granted increased ratings of 20 percent for recurrent subluxation and lateral instability of both knees as of February 21, 2017.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from January 10, 2015. His right shoulder disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum medical advisory opinion to address the likely etiology of the Veteran's back disability, considering her service records and post-service treatment history.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and right knee disability. The claims will be considered again after these steps are completed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back and leg disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity in service or initial diagnosis after service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities do not warrant a higher evaluation as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome was onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee is not related to her military service or her service-connected right knee disorder, and thus cannot be granted service connection.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current bilateral ankle condition and her military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis of the right knee joint status post surgery, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and retrolisthesis, is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The Board also finds that bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and osteoarthritis of the bilateral foot are related to service, with new evidence received since previous decisions raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis, left knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation, and right knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation due to incomplete examination reports. The claims are now before the Board for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder sprain and osteoarthritis, as well as his left shoulder sprain, are service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to conduct another VA examination due to the lack of range of motion testing in the previous examination. Additional medical records are also requested.