Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders are not related to military service.,Regarding her fibromyalgia, the VA examiner found no history of evaluation, treatment, diagnosis or chronicity of symptoms for fibromyalgia during military service. The examiner also found she currently does not meet the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis, effective April 24, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his military service.,His low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and osteopenia with discogenic disease at L5-S1, is also likely related to his service-connected left knee disability. His acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD) is linked to his now service-connected low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and shoulder disorders. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are pending and will be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for the residuals of a left eye injury and assigned an initial disability rating of 60 percent effective March 11, 2016. The Veteran's condition was characterized by incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks over the past 12 months.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst with residual scar does not warrant a compensable rating as it is currently asymptomatic and does not cause significant functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hypertension and left shoulder deltoid atrophy with degenerative arthritis and axillary nerve palsy was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, as his diastolic pressure has never been predominantly 110 or more. For the left shoulder condition, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher evaluation based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left hip osteoarthritis and consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The claims for service connection, rating increases, and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's partial left knee replacement with degenerative arthritis has not manifested chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder arthritis, cervical spine DDD with spasms, and lumbosacral spine DDD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and associated conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show more than moderate or severe pes planus, which do not warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective March 22, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period of time.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that TDIU on an extraschedular basis has been met.

The Veteran's right hip disability, following a total hip replacement in May 2007, has resulted in symptoms such as painful motion and weakness requiring the use of a wheelchair. The Board finds that this meets the criteria for a 90 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5054.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and review his TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the November 2016 VA examination and a need for further evidence, including an updated treatment record and a new VA examination of the Veteran's right knee disability.