Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current left foot conditions, including calcaneal osteotomy, degenerative arthritis, and plantar heel spur, were not caused by his in-service left foot sprain. The bilateral knee replacements are also not considered secondary to any current left foot disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral degenerative arthritis of the hips is related to his military service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected left knee disability, including claims for back, hip, and knee disabilities. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is manifested by continuous pain with no more than moderate limitation of motion, even considering flare-ups and the effects of pain and weakness. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left elbow disability is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability, and affording him the benefit of doubt, finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain, right knee osteoarthritis status post-surgery with loss of cartilage in patella and femoral areas, and left wrist scaphoid fracture are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran has not had a VA examination of the knees since June 2010, on remand he should be provided a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records, scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, and determining whether any claimed conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a new VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is also being evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied. The current disability rating is 20 percent, effective prior to May 22, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee degenerative arthritis is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis with meniscal tear and chondromalacia patella, is related to an injury sustained during active duty service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right hand disability, an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, and service connection for right ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current hearing loss in either ear or a nexus between the Veteran's hearing loss and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis was caused by his service-connected gunshot wound of the left ankle and foot with unfavorable ankylosis, resulting in significant gait disturbance over time. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis results in pain and stiffness, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as per VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the service connection claim for disability of the first and second toes of the right foot, finding new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine if the current diagnoses are related to an injury sustained in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, was incurred in service due to his reported in-service injuries and continuity of symptomatology.