Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint pain is due to a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service.,There is no current evidence of a hip disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of multiple joints, are not service-connected. The right ankle condition is service-connected due to in-service trauma, but other joint conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is not related to his active service and was not caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected lumbar strain disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and low back disability are not service-connected as they did not have onset during active service or are otherwise etiologically linked to any incident of active service.

The Veteran's PTSD, ischemic heart condition, tinnitus, lumbar osteoarthritis, radiculopathy of the right leg, and ankle strain have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU based on his PTSD alone.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand, foot, and hip osteoarthritis have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, which he contends is related to conditions like allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, dysthymic disorder, hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Board has decided that further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder, left knee, and left elbow disabilities are not related to his active duty service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased evaluations for various service-connected conditions has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left shoulder disorder due to injury at VA facility in July 2007 are dismissed as moot because his right and left knee disorders have been granted service connection.,His claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right knee osteoarthritis is not affected by the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service and was not manifest within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis was not caused by or permanently made worse by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability as the result of his active duty service and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis, status post arthroscopic surgery, has not met the criteria for a higher rating.,Prior to February 25, 2016, the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to allow for further development of the record, including a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and subluxation were granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for the period prior to October 21, 2014.,An effective date of September 9, 2010 was assigned for the grant of a 20 percent rating for subluxation of the left patella associated with osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is service-connected.,Service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the service-connected right knee disorder is also granted.