Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities (degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees) based on a finding that symptoms have been continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease have been denied as these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right leg and ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hammer toes was denied as the schedular criteria are adequate to rate the disability under consideration at all pertinent points.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records from the Chicago VA, and for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since December 9, 2008. Effective September 4, 2015, the Veteran is also entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of right knee extension and a 20 percent rating for limitation of right knee flexion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran's initial claims for service connection were received by VA less than one year after he separated from active service, and the disabilities originated while he was serving on active duty. The effective date of the awards is set to October 1, 2006.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent disabling for the entire appeal period, with limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees. The criteria for a higher rating are not met or nearly approximated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and for service connection for a lumbar spine and left knee disabilities. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves the determination of appropriate ratings for her service-connected right knee disability, which includes osteoarthritis and a total knee arthroplasty. The case is currently pending as 'mixed' due to some issues being granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to comply with Correia v. McDonald and obtain any recent treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied. The initial rating prior to April 4, 2013, and the subsequent rating from that date were both found not to meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability and denied her claim. For her left knee arthritis, she was awarded a 10% evaluation throughout the appeal period based on noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left shoulder condition has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting a rating greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and osteoarthritis was granted a 50% rating since September 29, 2014.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to December 24, 2014. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had forward flexion limited to no worse than 60 degrees and no ankylosis of the thoracic spine.