Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for osteoarthritis, effective from the date of this decision. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for a surgical scar associated with the left knee.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted based on his current range of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, which were not previously reviewed. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the extent of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his National Guard service and potential missing medical records. The Board will attempt to verify his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), obtain any relevant service treatment records, and provide an examination to determine the etiology of his back disability.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of current Peyronie's disease, heart disability, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, or eczema of the hands. The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left shoulder degenerative arthritis with internal derangement as secondary to his right shoulder strain. The reduction in evaluation from 20% to 10% for residuals of a chronic right shoulder strain was upheld.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of osteoarthritis of the knees was denied. For his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the hands and wrists, he is granted a 10% rating for each hand and wrist, but not higher.

The Veteran's additional wrist disabilities, including CTS and osteoarthritis, are not etiologically related to his service. His left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease is linked to his service.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 10% since October 1, 2007. The rating has remained unchanged as of September 11, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that his preexisting condition had been aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for left knee arthritis with scar or left knee instability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis, right knee. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis in his right knee is found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular considerations.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disorders is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for any of the conditions listed, including PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is not related to an injury sustained during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and denied his claim of service connection.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the cervical spine did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective October 17, 2012. The radiculopathy of the lower right extremity remains rated at 10 percent.