Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine did not result from service and is not attributable to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent since June 1, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his sleep apnea, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted based on new evidence submitted since the last rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing the claims file.

The Veteran's left foot disability is currently evaluated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent under Code 5284, and a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of actual loss of use of the foot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee joint osteoarthritis did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's left foot disability, manifested by a first metatarsal fracture and osteoarthritis, is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities were not found to be related to his military service. The left shoulder surgery was performed due to a fall, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for a temporary total rating based on convalescence or an increased rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only, is denied as he does not meet the criteria for 'permanent loss of use of one or both feet' within the context of 38 C.F.R. § 3.808.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is service connected, but his left shoulder disability cannot be linked to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and improper reduction of her disability rating, finding that she was not entitled to either.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5262 for impairment of the tibia and fibula. The claim for service connection for left knee arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the back and hips has been granted as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any right ankle, bilateral foot, left knee iliotibial tendonitis, or lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, IVDS and stenosis disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disability has been denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation at any point.

The Veteran is currently service connected for multiple disabilities, including major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, radiculopathy of the right upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus. His current combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that there is no medical nexus linking the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder to an in-service cold injury or any other service connection theory, and denied the claim.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent since the effective date of service connection, and his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 10 percent.,Both the right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a back condition and bursitis of the left hip. Service connection was denied for bilateral pseudophakia, skin cancer, and an effective date earlier than August 4, 2008 for SMC.,Service connection was also denied for an effective date earlier than November 17, 2008 for DEA.