Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his right hand disability on employment and clarifying the extent of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected gunshot wound to the left side of the neck with muscle involvement and surgical scar on the right side of the neck. The Board has determined that further medical clarification is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the purpose of obtaining additional VA and private treatment records, including those from Dr. Wilton, to determine if arthritis in August 2005 was the cause of his right ankle pain in September 2004 or earlier.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for total right and left knee replacements due to osteoarthritis are being remanded as additional STRs need to be located, and the VA examiner's opinion needs clarification.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease were not incurred during service, nor are they related to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an increased evaluation for his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis and for a TDIU rating prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder and right knee disorder are not related to his period of active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder was rated at 20 percent prior to February 12, 2009 and increased to 40 percent since July 1, 2009. The rating is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification of an opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether his service-connected right thumb disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the evidence added to his claims file. The issues include rating higher than 30 percent for a mood disorder, higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, higher than 10 percent for lateral instability of the right knee, and higher than 10 percent for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right leg amputation and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, affect his ability to move without assistance. As such, he meets the criteria for a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with associated arthritis and hip conditions is rated at 40 percent, effective June 17, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected post thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 8, 2007 and 20 percent from that date. The claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is related to complaints of low back pain in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are causally related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees are rated at 10% each, effective June 1, 2009. The claims for higher ratings are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of bilateral hands and fingers and arthritis of the left elbow, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active service.