Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected left thumb disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and whether his fall was due to his service-connected ankle and/or knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis had its onset in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been characterized by no loss of extension but with limited flexion to at least 110 degrees, and he is entitled to a separate compensable rating for instability under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of an increased rating for his right shoulder disability and TDIU are being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the back had its onset during his qualifying service in the Army National Guard, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cervical spine disabilities, including DDD and degenerative arthritis, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a relationship to his service.

The Veteran's combined rating due to service-connected disabilities is 70%, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. However, his unemployability is not due to his service-connected conditions but rather to nonservice-connected cognitive dysfunction and retirement from two careers.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that generalized osteoarthritis, which is hereditary in nature, was incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left hand injury is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant service department records and affording the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis is incurred during his active duty service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for left elbow degenerative arthritis will be remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's sleep disorder, including nightmares and difficulty falling asleep, is considered part of his service-connected PTSD. A separate rating for this symptomatology is not warranted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, left knee and sarcoidosis. The Veteran's claims remain denied.

The Veteran's increased ratings claims for her left knee and right knee disabilities were granted, while the claim for service connection for recurrent episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown as likely as not to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his work and education background, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, including spondylolisthesis and osteoarthritis with associated pain, was not incurred in or aggravated by his service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's left hand disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the current condition is unrelated to service.