Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee replacement, shoulder arthritis, major depressive disorder, and a healed perforation of the tympanic membrane, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and cognitive impairments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,The Board also found no evidence of a current left foot disability due to service, and concluded that any such disability is unrelated to his service-connected left lower extremity strain.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle inversions are currently rated at 20% and the appeal is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for hip pain, thoracolumbar spine disability, and sciatic nerve impairment are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II and lumbar spine osteoarthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not proximately due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative meniscal tear, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the disability and service or service-connected left knee disorder. The back condition issue remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is found to be related to her service, and she is granted service connection for this condition. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to her service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claims for depression and right knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis has been granted. However, the claims are not decided on their merits as there is no current disability found.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the appellant's various disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right shoulder chronic dislocations with osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are continuous since service separation.

The Board finds that osteoarthritis of the right knee is related to service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease, and grants the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis was incurred in active service, and thus granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis was initially rated and the RO granted service connection for status post total left and right knee arthroplasty. The RO increased his ratings to 60 percent effective October 23, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for a low back disability and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The RO should issue a supplemental statement of the case with regard to these issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. As such, any VCAA error related to this claim is moot.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling the Veteran for a VA orthopedic examination to assess his current knee disabilities, and considering the claims on remand.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability resulted in painful motion and degenerative arthritis, warranting a 10% rating prior to November 7, 2014. For the entire appeal period, his right hip disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's right great toe disability was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issue of entitlement to a rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine in excess of 40 percent prior to February 7, 2012 and since April 1, 2012.