Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder osteoarthritis and bronchial asthma, as well as a determination on whether his forearm scars are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of February 6, 2009, based on the combined rating and his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for award of a TDIU, and his disabilities are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, are not service-connected. The VA examiner concluded that the in-service injuries had no relevance to the current diagnosis of osteoarthritis due to its delayed onset.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling, and his radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent prior to February 8, 2017, and 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran does not meet the schedular criteria for an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disability or radiculopathy. The evidence shows no more than subjective complaints of pain without objective findings of limitation in motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran is granted specially adapted housing due to multiple service-connected disabilities, including the loss or use of the left lower extremity and residuals of organic disease/injury affecting balance and propulsion. The issue of a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis is related to an injury sustained during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hip disorder was not incurred in active military service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a link between the current right hip disorders and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, are not related to his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye, left knee, and left foot disabilities. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back pain and residuals of hernia. The claim for an increased rating for restrictive airway disease is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for a psychiatric disability as there was no justiciable case or controversy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, particularly regarding his right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral feet conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right knee disability and TDIU claim have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 60% combined disability due to bilateral knee disabilities, which are of common etiology.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and bilateral knee conditions are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The VA examiners concluded that any current hearing loss and knee disabilities are more likely due to natural aging processes rather than service events.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for increased ratings were not supported by the evidence of record. The Board found that prior to April 30, 2013, he did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability and that from April 30, 2013 to September 3, 2013, he did not meet the criteria for a separate rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability. The Veteran's total left knee replacement was also found not to warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's alcohol and substance abuse are related to his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorders, which is granted.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 23, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bronchial asthma and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting an examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left wrist disability is not related to his in-service surgery and denied service connection.