Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling appropriate examinations, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has remanded this matter due to additional development being necessary, including an examination of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The claim is now pending for further review.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, history of chronic synovitis, and chondromalacia patella was manifested by pain and x-ray evidence of arthritis with painful motion limited to no worse than flexion to 65 degrees with pain and extension to 5 degrees with pain prior to July 11, 2014. From May 20, 2014, the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, history of chronic synovitis, and chondromalacia patella was also manifested by slight instability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-surgery and with degenerative arthritis, has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since the initial grant of service connection. The current examination findings do not warrant an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including partial rotator cuff tear and osteoarthritis, is found to be due to his service-connected right upper extremity disabilities (right shoulder, hand, and wrist), thus granting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's back condition and left hip osteoarthritis are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his back condition. The claim for service connection is also being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted effective January 6, 2011. The criteria for TDIU were met as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to work at his previous job due to health issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee and lumbar spine conditions were denied. The RO found that the range of motion on both knees did not warrant a higher evaluation, as it was no worse than 0 to 85 degrees in flexion and extension, with some additional 'other' impairment due to pain and flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to higher initial evaluations for the service-connected lumbar spine disability and claims for loss of teeth 8 and 9 due to trauma and a surgical scar of the lumbar spine remain in appellate status.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a meniscal tear, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability, and scheduling a VA Social Industrial Survey. The issues on appeal are an increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with sciatic nerve involvement and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a copy of the examiner's credentials.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, resulting in a combined disability rating of 60 percent for one disability.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5260 (flexion limitation). The VA examination did not find any ankylosis or other disabling conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee instability warrants a 20 percent rating since September 17, 2008 and his left knee osteoarthritis warrants a 10 percent rating since September 17, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination by a vocational specialist to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extra-schedular TDIU if he does not meet the scheduler criteria.

The Veteran's right hand disability, including osteoarthritis and residuals of third and fourth metacarpal bone fractures, was manifested by x-ray evidence of degenerative changes and no more than painful motion, tenderness or pain to palpation of the joints or soft tissue of either hand. The Board found that an initial 10 percent evaluation is appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, to include flat feet and degenerative arthritis. The Veteran contends that his current disabilities are related to service due to an in-service fall accident and repeated climbing/jumping off helicopters.