Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's insomnia has been rated at the highest available rating of 30 percent, effective from April 22, 2013. The other issues have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service and has denied his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, specifically osteoarthritis, is found to be service-connected as the evidence supports a link between his in-service activities and current symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck strain, osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, and bilateral hand osteoarthritis are related to his active service.

The Veteran's knee and lumbar spine disabilities are rated at the lowest possible level due to their current functional limitations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there is no evidence of ankylosis. The current 20 percent evaluation adequately reflects his functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his left wrist and shoulder conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's in-service shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left thigh is found to have caused or aggravated his current lumbar spondylosis and degenerative changes, warranting service connection. However, there is no causal relationship between the SFW and the Veteran's diagnosed left hip osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his claim is granted. The VA examiner provided an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current headache disorder is related to his period of service or caused by his service-connected deviated nasal septum disorder.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 26, 2008 for the increased ratings assigned for limitation of extension and instability in the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left hip/thigh disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his hearing loss disability and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his right ankle disability, onychomycosis, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left elbow degenerative arthritis is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise that his current condition was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his bilateral knee disability.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a prior award of disability benefits from the Social Security Administration and the need to obtain alternate sources of evidence regarding in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his left knee disability, including any additional range-of-motion loss due to weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, pain, or flare-ups. The case will be returned to the Board after this examination.