Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20 percent, and his lumbar spine, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is established as service-connected due to his bilateral hearing loss. The claims for initial compensable evaluation of bilateral hearing loss, service connection for left knee disability, and right knee disability are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle osteoarthritis is related to his service, as it was present since he injured his ankle during basic training. The Board found that the preexisting condition did not worsen in service and thus granted service connection for the disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not begin in service or until many years after service, and are not linked to any established in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the cause of the Veteran's death is not related to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee arthritis.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including arthritis and rotator cuff tear, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has determined that a higher rating for the arthritis is warranted but not for the rotator cuff tear.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted effective May 6, 1999. His left knee disabilities and urethral stricture disease were also granted effective that date. The combined rating is now at 60 percent.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee osteoarthritis. The VA examinations are inadequate, and additional medical opinions are required to address the etiology of the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA examination opinion, and the Veteran's denial of a history of tobacco use. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service and could not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of osteoarthritis, bilateral hypertrophic compound astigmatism, pulmonary tuberculosis, aortic sclerosis, osteoporosis and compression fracture of the thoracolumbar spine, and presbyopia, cataracts, pterygium, and age-related macular degeneration. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a previous examination report that did not consider the Veteran's reported injury in service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the acquisition of medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her thoracic spine disability and service connection for right and left lower extremity conditions, finding no evidence of a current disability or that any such disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and increased evaluations for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the earliest date after the January 1999 RO decision that the Veteran expressed an intent to reopen his claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was December 22, 2000.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the left foot disability was manifested by pain and functional loss amounting to no more than moderate residuals of a foot injury, and there was insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection for ankle and knee disorders or sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine osteoarthritis, degenerative disc osteophyte complex disorder, and radiculopathy are not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and scheduling a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether the Veteran's current foot, ankle, and lower leg complaints are residuals of frostbite or exposure to cold weather while in service.