Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic low back disability during service or within one year after discharge, and the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling new VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected scars and determine whether any other disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's current knee and ankle conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or related to any service-connected disability, including his right shoulder arthritis. The primary causes of death were acute renal failure, congestive heart failure, and pleural effusion, which did not have their onset in service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are considered to be related to injuries sustained during service, including combat. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions based on direct service connection.

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

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, as well as her osteoarthritis of the symphysis pubis, originated in military service or is otherwise attributable thereto. Therefore, the claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his in-service injury during a football game. The Board also found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the knees, status post total knee replacements, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to Project SHAD. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis. The right shoulder osteoarthritis is found to be at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service injury, but an opinion on whether it was aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability could not be provided without speculation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new evidence, including a VHA opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine remains pending.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 7, 2014. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition.,Prior to March 7, 2014, a compensable rating was not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disorder, as well as his cervical spine disorder (including fibrositis and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine), both on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that service connection is not established for any of the claimed disabilities, including a low back disability, disorders of the bilateral eyes, major depression, and disabilities of the bilateral wrists and hands.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the AC joint with impingement and radiculopathy, is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. With resolution of reasonable doubt, service connection for the residuals of a left shoulder injury is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right knee, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 30, 2011. As a result, he is granted a TDIU effective that date.