Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the issues involving right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for a left thumb disability has been granted, but the assigned rating of 10% is denied as his symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left knee disabilities are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a right wrist fracture, as his diagnosed osteoarthritis of the right wrist was not incurred during active duty service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation, warranting a final denial.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and denied service connection for ulcers. The claims of service connection for arthritis of the hands, knees, and back are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted a compensable rating (10%) for residuals of multiple rib fractures. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, eye disability, right total hip replacement, and heart disability are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and issuing a statement of the case regarding his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not service-connected.,The Veteran's symptoms of pain in the bilateral arms, legs, back and neck; sinus disorder; skin disorder; and stomach disorder have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Veteran's pes planus, metatarsal calluses, and degenerative arthritis of the left foot are found to be service-connected. The Veteran also has service-connected cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is related to service and grants this claim. The right knee disability and left knee disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee medial meniscectomy and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, providing corrective VCAA notice, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his low back injury.

The Board has remanded this matter for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the reopening of his claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine will be addressed at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and tendonitis, are at least as likely to have been caused by his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability, which includes degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is currently evaluated at 10 percent. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful flexion ranging from 50 to 140 degrees and swelling, has been rated at 10 percent for the entire rating period. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder is found to have started during service and continues today, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and dyssomnia. The VA will schedule appropriate examinations during periods of exacerbation of these conditions.