Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with communication and missing records, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability was reduced, but the decision is void ab initio due to procedural errors. The left knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran was rendered unemployable as of May 21, 2013, solely due to his multiple service-connected disabilities and this has continued unabated since that point in time.

The Veteran's lower back pain is manifested by characteristic pain on motion and, during flare-ups, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less. The Board finds that the Veteran warrants a 40 percent disability rating for his lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for right and left shoulder osteoarthritis, tendonitis of the left shoulder, and peripheral neuropathy of both shoulders were denied effective from June 18, 2003.,Claims for right and left wrist osteoarthritis were also denied effective from February 20, 2004.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including consideration of the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) if the schedular criteria remain unmet.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and an opinion on the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee degenerative arthritis was not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation and is unrelated to service. The Board also found no relationship between any current right or left shoulder disability, as shown by MRI reports from July 2014, and service.

The Veteran's wife has multiple disabling conditions that require the aid and attendance of another person, qualifying him for SMC benefits. The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to PTSD are denied.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability do not warrant ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for the scheduling of a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's bilateral elbow impingement with osteoarthritis and cubital tunnel syndrome, as well as his bilateral knee condition, are found to be related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle and left knee disabilities are related to his service, granting entitlement to service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rhinitis is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected status post nasal fracture with mild depression of the left nasal bone. The issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service. The current conditions are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current folliculitis is incurred during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a VA examination and obtain additional medical records. The issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder recurrent dislocation with degenerative arthritis of the AC and glenohumeral joint, and entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for scar, status post surgery, right shoulder will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions are being remanded to allow for additional development of the record.