Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent left shoulder dislocation, right ankle fracture, osteoarthritis of the left knee and right knee, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand, and hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee, as well as his osteoarthritis, have been granted initial ratings. The right knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to August 15, 2000. The RO granted a TDIU effective from August 15, 2000, based on his combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since April 2006, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, is found to be at least as likely as not incurred during service due to continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his combined service-connected disabilities on his employability. The case will be readjudicated after this.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, without consideration of his age or non-service connected disabilities, prevent the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is granted as service connected. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service injury and current disability, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their respective conditions, with the highest available rating of 20 percent for each. The decision grants these ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis changes has been withdrawn. The remaining issues on appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and right knee disorders are not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The issues are whether he should receive increased schedular ratings for his patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis of both knees, and if the reduction in disability ratings from 40% and 30% to 10% was proper.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were granted, with the adjustment disorder receiving a 50% rating effective from August 25, 2010. The lumbar spine disability received a 40% rating effective from August 25, 2010. Other issues remain in appellate status.