Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including residuals of surgery to the great toes, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a left foot or toe disorder. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability for his left foot.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of extension, instability, and flexion, is currently rated at 40 percent. His bilateral hearing loss has not been found to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 21, 2014 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent from July 21, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder. The cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has found that the Veteran does have a current diagnosis of PTSD based on his claimed in-service stressor, which is related to service. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The medical evidence does not support a connection between the disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability warrants a 10 percent rating since December 1, 2008. The evidence shows moderate limitation of motion in the ankle prior to March 11, 2013 and marked limitation of motion beginning on that date.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since December 10, 2015, with a prior rating of 30% before that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sciatica of the right lower extremity is proximately due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it does not result in limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less, a combined range of motion of 120 degrees or less, severe guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis or abnormal kyphosis, ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes requiring bedrest and treatment by a physician. The Veteran's hypertension has been manifested by diastolic blood pressure of predominantly between 70 mm and 90 mm, and by systolic pressure predominantly in the 130s and 140s.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability. The claim for TDIU will also be developed.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary and the case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, Social Security Administration records, and private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders will be reconsidered after this additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II and denied the remaining claims. Diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to in-service herbicide exposure, while the other conditions are not supported by evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues include service connection for a neck disability, increased ratings for lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and TDIU.

The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, status post meniscus repair, in place of the single 10 percent rating currently in effect.

The Veteran is granted TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, with a combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in the Veteran's records, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the right ankle remains denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, securing his VA vocational rehabilitation file, and providing an advisory opinion from a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Division counselor regarding the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an SOC addressing his claim for additional reimbursement under the FMP for medical treatment/services rendered in Poland.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 20, 2008 and a rating in excess of 30 percent from April 1, 2009 forward.