Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for a right ankle or right leg disability, as the evidence does not support a finding of an in-service injury or disease and no link to current conditions. The Veteran's lay statements are considered along with the VA examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service. The Veteran's hearing loss is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is found to be service-connected. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a lumbar spine disorder and right and left leg disorders which are related to his service-connected post-operative residuals of a fracture of the right pelvis and right femur.

The Board has decided to remand this case for further development, including an addendum VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for callosities of both feet is being remanded due to the need for a new examination. Additionally, service connection claims for various foot conditions are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected low back degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 40 percent effective July 30, 2014.

As of July 28, 2015, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability due to his anxiety disorder and lumbar spine osteoarthritis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hip disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain, is considered to have started during his service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition on the basis of direct incurrence in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, but his bilateral hip disorder was not found to be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed osteoarthritis of the right and left elbows is related to his service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral pes cavus has been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of pes cavus, and the symptoms present are more consistent with other diagnoses such as pes planus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, left hip, and right knee disabilities are proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right hand and right ankle are found to be related to his military service, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are related to service due to continuous symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee degenerative arthritis was denied as the evidence did not show severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is proximately due to his service-connected right ankle disability. The claims for service connection for a right wrist and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to their respective service-connected conditions.