Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and spondylosis, lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating due to limitations in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine.,For anxiety disorder (NOS), the evidence did not demonstrate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity as required for a 50% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those allegedly related to exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions and that there was no indication of a nexus between any current disability and active duty.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right foot osteoarthritis is not related to service and was not manifest within one year of separation from service. The Board concludes that service connection is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is found to be the primary cause of his sleep disorder and chronic fatigue, which are granted as secondary to this condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, and the Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with other issues. The case is therefore REMANDED to schedule a videoconference hearing before the undersigned VLJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.,Regarding the left hip condition, as there was no in-service injury or disease noted, and no competent medical evidence linking a current disability to service, the claim was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee pain with osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects her current functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine disability and its impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated as part of this process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his partial knee replacement surgery in September 2009, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a temporary 100 percent evaluation for one year following the surgery.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 17, 2012 and a 40 percent rating thereafter. The effective date for the increased rating is set at April 17, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found that the Veteran was not entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claim for service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed condition and active duty or service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's ankle disability did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and any current ankle disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his anxiety with depression and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined disability rating of 100 percent. The Veteran is eligible for financial assistance to acquire an automobile or adaptive equipment due to the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The RO has proposed to sever service connection for the right knee, left knee (secondary), low back disability, and left hip strain. The Veteran's appeal of this proposal was denied in a November 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a retroactive claim within one year from when he became permanently disabled.

The Veteran's left foot disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5284 for moderately severe impairment of a foot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his right leg disability and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's wrist conditions were not incurred in service and denied her claims for service connection. The initial rating claim for asthma was also denied.