Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability, as well as his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent prior to April 20, 2017 and a rating in excess of 40 percent since that date is denied. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is also remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

This decision grants initial compensable ratings for gout and degenerative arthritis, right ankle prior to April 8, 2016 and from April 8, 2016. It also grants an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for gout and degenerative arthritis, left ankle. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder is denied prior to April 8, 2016 but granted after that date. An increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis is also denied.,An initial compensable rating was granted for gout and degenerative arthritis, right ankle prior to April 8, 2016 and from April 8, 2016. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder is denied prior to April 8, 2016 but granted after that date. An increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent was granted for gout and degenerative arthritis, right ankle from April 8, 2016.,An initial compensable rating was granted for gout and degenerative arthritis, left ankle. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder is denied prior to April 8, 2016 but granted after that date. An increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent was granted for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding no link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service or service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral chondromalacia patella is no longer present due to total knee arthroplasty in 2010. The claim for a compensable rating for this condition has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's spondylolisthesis is a congenital defect and if so, whether there was any superimposed disease or injury in service that resulted in an additional disability. The claim for secondary service connection of degenerative arthritis of the spine due to bilateral hip arthritis remains denied.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis is granted as service-connected, with a presumption of service connection due to the one-year post-service period.,The Veteran's PTSD prior to May 14, 2015 is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence of unemployability prior to June 14, 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review, including consideration of whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted and if a TDIU should be granted. The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability affects his ability to work due to pain and decreased range of motion.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for diabetic nephrosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, type II, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been dismissed. The Veteran also requested to withdraw his appeal for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examinations and conflicting evidence in the record.