Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for additional examination and development due to assertions of increased severity since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his cervical spine disability and etiology of his thoracolumbar spine and left leg radiculopathy disabilities, and assessing whether he meets the schedular requirements for entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective from September 18, 2015. The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis has been granted service connection. The Veteran's liver disorder was denied as not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine is service-connected, as it was not shown to be congenital and first manifested during active service. The Board also finds that the Veteran's IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected scoliosis.

The Veteran's right hip disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected back disability. However, there is no evidence of a left hip disability or bilateral foot disability that is related to his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied, but the claims for service connection for spina bifida occulta with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and hypertension were partially reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service, as there was no aggravation of a preexisting condition during active duty. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his bilateral knee disabilities, including seeking higher initial ratings and a TDIU. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the bilateral hips and thus service connection for this condition is denied. For his right knee and low back disabilities, an addendum opinion is required to address whether these conditions are related to service or other factors.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar osteoarthritis, finding that it is a subsequent manifestation of the already service-connected arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be related to his current low back disorder, and the condition does not appear to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, is not related to his active duty service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its onset in service and is not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, did not render him unemployable prior to June 27, 2014. As of that date, the issue of TDIU is moot due to the assignment of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of claim.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of claim.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of claim.,The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the issues on appeal.