Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disorders is being remanded due to the introduction of a new issue (obesity) and inextricability with the existing issues. The AOJ should adjudicate both claims before making a final determination.

The Veteran's claims were denied, and he was not granted any new effective dates or increased ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and meniscal tear of the femoral fracture residuals do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, sleep apnea, knee disabilities, and osteoarthritis, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the claimed conditions and active duty or National Guard service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, hepatitis C, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, dysthymic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder), finding that there was no in-service injury or event related to these conditions, nor continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder, including degenerative arthritis and chronic lumbar strain, was not related to her service or any aspect of it. The evidence did not support a finding that her current condition was caused by her service-connected pelvic inflammatory disease.

The Veteran's service-connected status post gunshot wound of the left foot with posttraumatic changes, degenerative arthritis and hallux valgus has been granted a 20 percent rating effective December 30, 2007.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left elbow disability in April 2008. The Veteran filed a claim for an earlier effective date on February 8, 2010, and VA established a 20% rating as of that date based on limited pronation. The appeal is denied because no earlier effective date can be granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and the Veteran's private medical records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and patellofemoral syndrome, did not begin during service or due to any incident of service. The VA examiner stated that neither the right nor the left knee disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain and left shoulder degenerative arthritis have been rated at the maximum allowable under current VA regulations, with no further increase in ratings possible.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not caused or worsened by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain with degenerative joint disease is not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. The left shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis has been rated appropriately.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, while the cervical spine disability with radiculopathy is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left knee degenerative arthritis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease (DDD), was found to be incurred in service. The right knee disability is also granted.

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

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The left clavicle disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.