Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 1, 2011 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was initially evaluated as 20 percent disabling effective October 19, 2015. Radiculopathy of the left upper extremity was also rated at 20 percent effective that date.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis was manifested by severe degenerative joint disease, with significant limitation of flexion and daily flare-ups that were a 10/10 in severity. The Board granted initial ratings of 30 percent for each knee prior to September 9, 2009.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hip and knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated during her active duty service, are not presumed to have been incurred due to a disease or injury in service, and there is no evidence of chronicity after service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle sprain and chronic residuals of a fracture of the left little finger, middle phalanx.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and whether he is unemployable due to this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, effective December 14, 2012.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the ankles results in occasional incapacitating exacerbations, warranting a disability rating of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a claim for a left ankle disability, are denied. The claims were not granted because the evidence did not support the assignment of higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of his claim. He also has separate ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and GERD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Chelsea Naval Hospital and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current nature of any right knee and ankle disabilities. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis was caused by her service-connected right ankle fracture repair, and thus granted her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since March 2011. The Board found that the current rating adequately compensates for his symptoms, including pain and functional loss due to weakness, incoordination, and flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the Board's analysis and need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating throughout the increased rating period on appeal, based on symptomatic removal of meniscus and limitation of motion.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but refers the issue to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent prior to September 24, 2012 and has been reduced to 20 percent since then. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are found to be related to his service-connected degenerative disc syndrome of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bursitis and DDD (also claimed as osteoarthritis) of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine has been denied. The Board found that there is no separate 'bursitis' disorder with symptoms not overlapping or duplicating symptomatology already compensated through service connection, nor would a grant warrant separate service connection for any asserted joint or body part affected.,The Veteran's claim for DDD (also claimed as osteoarthritis) of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine has also been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing onset of such conditions during service, nor are they related to service in any other way.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and providing a VA orthopedic examination to address the current severity of any residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative joint disease. The examiner is also requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any right knee, left shoulder, cervical spine, or lumbar spine disorder is aggravated by the service-connected left knee disorder.