Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized osteoarthritis was not incurred in service, may not be presumed to have been incurred therein, and is not proximately caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a comprehensive evaluation of the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine did not preexist his entry into active service and was not shown to be related to his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition is less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection (November 7, 2005).

The Veteran died from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which was not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's dementia and hypertension did not have onset during active service or within one year of active service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically instability and degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, have been granted increased ratings effective November 22, 2013. The current ratings are 30 percent for each knee.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected excision of the head of the left radius, was denied. The Board found new and material evidence but did not establish service connection due to lack of causation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right ankle, old avulsion fracture of the left ankle, bilateral status post total knee replacement, low back condition, and sciatic nerve condition, did not begin in service or until many years after service and cannot be linked to any established in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his eligibility for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and osteoarthritis of the right knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities. The AOJ should also consider whether he is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling new VA examinations, and preparing a formal rating decision that rates the knee under appropriate diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right thumb does not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including issuing a statement of the case on his claim for a higher rating for left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis and developing a TDIU claim due to lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease. The AOJ must also consider whether the Veteran's TDIU claim should be considered under an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's left foot disorder was not shown to be related to his active military service and is therefore denied for direct service connection. The reduction of the evaluation for residuals of a right knee injury from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective March 1, 2008, was found to be improper.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to November 14, 2011.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of cold injury with osteoarthritis.