Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's initial rating for residuals of a left shoulder injury has been increased to 20 percent, effective April 17, 2012. The right knee disability continues to warrant a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and right eye disability. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The lumbar spine disability was found to be manifested by pain and functional loss, but not ankylosis or incapacitating episodes lasting at least 6 weeks. For the left great toe and hallux valgus deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, the disability was productive of mild to moderate symptoms prior to February 22, 2008 and severe symptoms from November 11, 2011 onwards. The second toe with metatarsalgia was found to be productive of mild to moderate symptoms since September 18, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, degenerative arthritis in both knees, traumatic arthritis in the elbow, pes planus, chronic low back strain, and chronic sinusitis, contributed to his death from an overdose of propoxyphene. The Board finds that these conditions were directly related to the cause of death.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine resulted in limited spinal motion, but did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings. The current rating of 20% is appropriate since July 8, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracic and lumbar spine disorders are not related to his service, either directly or as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 20 percent effective April 16, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for clarification of certain opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not warrant ratings in excess of 30 percent prior to September 16, 2011 and/or in excess of 50 percent (combined) from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his GU disability and right knee conditions, have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from March 12, 2007 due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unemployable.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected left wrist disability and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted, with the left wrist disability rated at 70% from September 10, 2012.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 20 percent for limitation of extension from July 22, 2009 through January 3, 2013. The rating for limitation of flexion remained noncompensable.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion. The claim for sinusitis and CTS has been reopened but no new evidence was provided to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to procedural issues, with no specific decision on the merits.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee with meniscus tear status post medial meniscectomy is granted, and his service-connected right knee scar remains at a 10 percent evaluation. The April 1995 decision granting service connection for right ulnar neuropathy and a right elbow disability is found to contain clear and unmistakable error (CUE).