Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis has been rated at 40 percent since July 14, 2008. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms including pain, stiffness, swelling, instability, fatigue, and lack of endurance.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent prior to September 6, 2016 and 10 percent thereafter. His lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board granted the increased rating for his right knee degenerative joint disease and denied the TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, sinusitis, amenorrhea, gastrointestinal disability, hemorrhoids, and headache disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia and PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and knee conditions are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including scheduling an examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and left shoulder disabilities, obtaining VA treatment records, providing VCAA notice regarding a claim for TDIU, and readjudicating the issues in light of all evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, residuals of injury, right leg and hip due to a lack of evidence showing that his condition was incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was not shown to result in limitation of motion that is objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion prior to August 16, 2011. Therefore, a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis with disc degeneration is rated at 20 percent, effective April 16, 2009. The right knee and ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions and disorders, but the Board is remanding these cases due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and low back disorders are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee disorder, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of recent evidence.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection were denied as there is no evidence of additional disability resulting from the surgery, and his conditions are not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 10, 2001.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis and osteopenia of the left fifth MCP joint, with deficits of flexion and scar tissue and contracture of the tendon sheath, is found to be due to his service injury. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow osteoarthritis, initially manifested during active service, is entitled to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a T8-T9 compression fracture are not related to service or any service-connected disability, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability and its occupational effects. The TDIU issue will be deferred until the increased rating issue is adjudicated.

The Veteran does not have a right shoulder disability that is related to his service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder was not incurred in or caused by his service.,The Veteran meets the minimum schedular requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, but he is currently able to perform sedentary work and has a history of working 30 years before retiring.