Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and right hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA medical examination to determine if his diagnosed conditions are etiologically related to service-connected constipation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for recurrent subluxation of the left knee and osteoarthritis of the left knee were denied as there is no evidence of severe instability or limitation of motion warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and torn medial meniscus with recurrent effusions are currently rated at the maximum allowable under current VA regulations. The slight lateral instability is separately evaluated.

The Board finds that the reduction of the evaluation from 40% to 30% for right knee disability due to degenerative arthritis with loss of extension was proper. The Veteran's left knee disabilities are currently evaluated as 20%, and 10% respectively.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right hand disability, including whether it is related to service. The case will be returned to the AOJ after this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for papillary thyroid cancer, status post thyroidectomy.,The Board has also granted service connection for dissecting ascending aorta as secondary to the previously service-connected papillary thyroid cancer. However, both cervical and lumbar spine osteoarthritis claims have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. No jurisdiction remains for the Board to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

All claims for increased ratings were denied by the Board in its decision dated August 19, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative arthritis and spondylosis with disc space narrowing is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective June 28, 2012. His left foot condition remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) for further development. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative disc disease, thoracic scoliosis, and osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine, are being evaluated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence. The issue remains whether he should receive a higher evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder, left ulnar nerve, and cervical spine disabilities were denied. The initial rating for the left rotator cuff tendonitis was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. For the period prior to June 14, 2010, the Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. As of June 14, 2010, the middle radicular group (left ulnar neuropathy and cervical radiculopathy) was granted an initial rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the cervical spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's current back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and his hip pain is not related to a service-connected condition. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis and tendonitis of the left thumb are currently evaluated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5228. The preponderance of evidence shows that his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable evaluation.