Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective prior to August 8, 2011. He also meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by arthritis and limitation of motion, is currently rated at the minimum 10 percent level. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis and recurrent dislocations of the left shoulder are related to service, as they likely stem from a shoulder injury sustained during active duty. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his lumbar spine disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip degenerative arthritis, status post total left knee replacement, right knee arthritis, hypertension, and left knee internal derangement, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board grants Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia patella resulted in functional impairment prior to July 12, 2012, warranting a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to work during the period from September 18, 2006 to March 23, 2010.

The Board granted an increased (30%) rating for the service-connected back disability, effective from October 15, 2010.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 23, 2011.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including dislocation of the patella and degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 20% since April 9, 2004. The increased rating for dislocation of the patella was denied, while a separate 10% rating for degenerative arthritis was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues were remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and subluxation, is rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of osteoarthritis of the right hip and lumbosacral strain are at least as likely as not related to his service, including a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in July 2002. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella, left knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella, and thoracic degenerative disc disease. The claims are granted.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to March 4, 2010. A separate rating of 10 percent for instability was granted. After a total right knee arthroplasty on March 4, 2010, the Veteran received a 60 percent rating beginning May 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an increased level of special monthly compensation based on the need for a higher level of aid and assistance has been denied as he does not meet the threshold requirements for attaining any of the required levels of SMC to warrant consideration of an increased rate based on a higher level of aid and assistance.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities are 60 percent disabling due to a common etiology: right hip degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain. The evidence shows the Veteran is unemployable solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by medial collateral ligament strain and osteoarthritis, was rated at 10 percent prior to May 8, 2012. Since then, the rating has been increased to 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The left knee disability is secondary to the right knee disability.