Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a disorder manifested by muscle weakness with pain of the knees, legs, and arms, as well as for osteoarthritis and rotator cuff problems of the shoulders. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during or after service.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, assigning a single noncompensable rating. However, it determined that separate evaluations should be assigned for each foot due to different disability pictures in each foot. The right foot was found to have degenerative osteoarthritis of the great toe and metatarsophalangeal joint warranting a 10% evaluation.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for severe limitation of motion without other compensable criteria met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his right knee disability, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical disability, finding that the Veteran's credible report of an in-service injury is consistent with his current diagnosis. The claim for posttraumatic stress disorder was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for hip disorders. The issues of service connection for knee disorders, back disorder, and hip disorders are remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for higher evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and status post fracture of the left humerus, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than the current 10% and 20% ratings respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip and lumbosacral spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for thoracic strain with degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, finding that the new evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis, to include lumbar strain, was granted with a rating of 20 percent effective May 6, 2008. The highest possible evaluation remains on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any claimed condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, left knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the left knee associated with left knee instability, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, do not meet the requisite schedular percentages for TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for his current low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and to provide an adequate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current back disorder.