Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the left and right knees have been rated at 10 percent each since February 3, 2010. The Board finds that these ratings are not warranted based on the evidence presented.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia was denied by the Board as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board has granted service connection for right elbow osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service injury and establishing continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's knee conditions have been rated based on the severity of his symptoms and X-ray findings. The evaluations are granted for the periods specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, right hip, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes and heart disorder are presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, was denied. The VA examiner found no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy and noted that it resolved without residuals in 1988.

The Board has found that the Veteran's symptoms of degenerative disc disease and facet osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine have been continuous since service separation, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-operative residuals of a fractured right distal tibia and fibula, lumbar DDD, patellofemoral arthritis of the right knee, residual scar on the right ankle, and osteoarthritis of the right foot, have been found to be so disabling as to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for the service-connected fracture of the left little toe and entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral feet, claimed as secondary to the service-connected fracture of the left little toe, are pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left thigh dermatitis was withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claim of service connection for right 1st metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is not related to his service or any disease, injury, or event during service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's scoliosis existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, however, did not develop within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected as secondary to his right knee disability.,The Veteran's right knee subluxation and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both rated at the maximum available evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the June 2013 VA examination regarding functional loss due to pain on use or flare-ups of the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorders, including degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion, are not related to his military service.,Regarding the respiratory disorder other than asthma (COPD), the VA examiner concluded it is not due to or caused by or exacerbated by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip disability is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. His right hip and low back disabilities are not currently assigned a specific rating.