Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection and the Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for thyroid cancer secondary to asbestosis, entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability, entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for posttraumatic arthritis of the bilateral thumbs are addressed in the Remand section.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected lumbar spine and hip disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and right foot disability are not related to service or his service-connected disabilities, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 40 percent. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected spine and right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to August 20, 2012, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The condition is not service-connected based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, arthritis of the left foot, and tarsal tunnel syndrome of the right ankle. Service connection was granted for hemorrhoids, but with a non-compensable evaluation. The Veteran's right foot arthritis and surgical scars were also not granted increased evaluations.

The Veteran's increased ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities were granted, but the appeal remains in appellate status as maximum schedular ratings have not been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as the potential impact on his entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple joint-related disorder, including polyarthritis and SLE, is at least as likely as not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis due to inadequate examination reports, failure to address functional loss during flare-ups, and need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS was granted an initial rating of 20 percent from April 5, 2010 forward.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, which necessitated his total knee replacement surgery, is not a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for a temporary total rating based on left knee surgery necessitating convalescence cannot be granted.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The claim for a higher rating has been granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis is not service-connected, and his current right arm disability (including numbness and pain) is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent for the periods prior to February 27, 2006.

The Board has awarded service connection for bilateral AC joint osteoarthritis, and the issue of TDIU is remanded due to pending claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to evaluate the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knee, lumbar spine/L5-S-1, and postoperative right ankle.