Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right shoulder joint has been rated at 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, which is the minimum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board finds a remand necessary to assess the current severity of his disability post-surgery.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, translating any identified documents, scheduling a VA audiological examination, and readjudicating the claim for increased evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation with osteoarthritis and paresthesia of gingiva have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board is remanding the case for a new VA examination to consider all of the Veteran's in-service injuries and his lay statements, including those from the February 2016 hearing testimony. The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that any current right or left knee disorder, including degenerative arthritis, is etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, originated during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and fibromyalgia, as well as his request to reopen a claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis. The increased rating claim for bilateral pes planus was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to service, including his fall in service. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements of continuity of symptomatology since injury in service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by rotator cuff tears and degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 20 percent since March 1, 2013. The rating is for limitation of motion of the arm.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied, and the TDIU claim was also denied as he did not meet the percentage rating standards to be considered for individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 9, 2009, for the grant of service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and disc disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and needs further evaluation of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to February 25, 2014 and increased to 40 percent on or after that date. The TDIU claim is granted effective October 7, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for separate ratings for neurological manifestations of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to unclear findings in the record regarding whether these symptoms are related to the service-connected conditions or other disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, is service-connected as it resulted from his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The issue of an extraschedular rating for his right shoulder disability will also be considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of rheumatoid arthritis and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disability remains pending.

The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right knee, degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, left hallux valgus and bunion deformity with early degenerative changes of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and bone spurs of the right ankle are all related to his service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 30 percent, and his cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of entitlement to service connection for cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea during a hearing before the Board. The appeal is dismissed.