Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, did not manifest during his period of service and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's chronic sprain and degenerative osteoarthritis of the right knee had its onset during service, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent rating for sinusitis, but not higher, due to the presence of three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right ankle does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination. The issues of increased rating for right knee disability and service connection for lumbar spine disorder are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and obtain recent medical records from Dr. Raymond Shea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees is related to service, specifically his already service-connected low back strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral sacroiliac degenerative changes; degenerative disc disease, cervical spine; and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, with degenerative changes.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current foot disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection for residuals of cold injuries to the feet. The low back and hip disorders are found to be secondary to the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding increased evaluations for osteoarthritis of the right knee and dermatitis of the face before a decision was made.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine developed as a result of his active service, and grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, but granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and residuals of a recurring cyst or tumor on the right middle finger. The claim for service connection for low back disability remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective December 1, 2015. The reduction is denied as improper.

The Veteran's right eye disability is service-connected and he has been granted a TDIU. His lumbar spine disability, associated with radiculopathy of the lower extremities, remains at a 40% rating.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral rotator cuff tendonitis, and degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder were found to be incurred in service. The temporary total disability rating for convalescence following right shoulder surgery is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his current thoracic spine strain and lumbar degenerative arthritis were not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was aggravated by injuries incurred during periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, thus granting service connection.