Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his inability to appear at the scheduled August 2012 travel board hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a lower extremity, and therefore he does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience. The appeal is now pending again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot sprain warrants a 10 percent rating prior to May 24, 2012, and no higher. The disability is currently rated as moderate.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, finding that his current degenerative arthritis and disc disease are related to multiple traumatic injuries sustained during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial schedular ratings and extra-schedular evaluations were denied. The TDIU claim remains part of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the thumbs, back, and left knee are not directly related to service or secondary to his service-connected right knee traumatic arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left acromioclavicular joint and any necessary diagnostic testing.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or immediately after service. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his active duty experience. The back disorder, arthritis of multiple joints, hypertension, and OSA do not have a direct link to his military service.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left leg scar, which was incurred in service, meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since December 2, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether his symptoms have most nearly approximated flexion limited to 30 degrees or less during this period.

The Veteran's right foot disability, specifically osteoarthritis of the first and second metatarsophalangeal joints, is rated at 20 percent disabling. The decision also granted service connection for mild spondylolisthesis L5-S1 (claimed as low back condition) and osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the appellant for a VA examination to assess his current right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee meniscectomy residuals and osteoarthritis were denied as the evidence did not show additional functional loss due to pain or other forms of functional loss, and his current disability levels are already at their highest possible rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, low back degenerative joint disease, and a left Achilles tendon disorder to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC.

The Veteran's lumbar myositis has been rated at 30 percent, but the claim for increased rating is denied. The issue of lower extremities radiculopathy secondary to service-connected lumbar paravertebral myositis must be remanded.