Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal in July 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and bilateral foot strain were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of current respiratory or right hand disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his knee disabilities. The TDIU claim will be deferred until further notice.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, which was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 23, 2009, and at 20 percent as of that date. The Board has determined that an additional examination is needed to assess the current severity of the condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, arthritis, and right shoulder status post right rotator cuff repair with degenerative changes. The Board finds that these conditions are related to active service.

Service connection was granted for left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement with an effective date of June 14, 2005.,Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the left elbow and wrist associated with residuals of an injury to the left forearm with effective dates of June 13, 2012.,Service connection was granted for neuralgia of the radial nerve and median nerve associated with residuals of an injury to the left forearm with effective dates of June 14, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent effective December 9, 2015. The rating is based on the presence of forward flexion to 10 degrees.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left hand and the disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected residuals of a traumatic laceration with scar of the left hand prior to August 6, 2015, and 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and osteoarthritis of the left knee are not related to her military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand conditions, including a fracture to the fifth metacarpal and degenerative arthritis, are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is productive of forward flexion limited to less than 30 degrees but not less than 15 degrees, warranting a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to inadequate statement of reasons or bases in the April 2015 decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to her military service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of worsening since the last examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia and found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left knee chondromalacia was incurred in service. The issue of an increased rating for right foot great toe osteoarthritis is remanded due to a lack of recent VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, or bilateral hip disorder. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder is denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's left pectoral tear with surgical repair and osteoarthritis has been rated at 30 percent since March 31, 2015.