Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's 40% rating for left knee moderate osteoarthritis has been restored, effective August 1, 2011. The appeal regarding an effective date prior to August 1, 2011 is dismissed as moot due to the restoration of the 40% rating. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disability.

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

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.

A 20 percent rating for traumatic osteoarthritis of left acromioclavicular joint is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being submitted after the last decision. The Veteran did not waive AOJ consideration of this evidence.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to April 20, 2017. For the period since April 20, 2017, a rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.

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 decision denies initial compensable ratings for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016, as well as a higher rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.,Entitlement to an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residual scars, pilonidal cyst excision, low back, coccyx area, right shoulder x4, and bilateral feet is granted.

The Veteran's back disorder, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine, is related to service and granted. The issues for arthritis, depression, and neck disorders are remanded.

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.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right middle finger disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disabilities to an in-service injury. The examiner opined that the Veteran’s hand conditions were more likely related to post-service employment and aging.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its impact on his employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for a left knee post-operative left medial meniscectomy with arthritis, other than instability is denied. The current diagnosis of the Veteran's left knee disability more closely warrants the already assigned 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, and a sleep disorder.

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 denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disorder and remanded his claims for increased rating of right knee strain and TDIU. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, bicipital tendon tear, and shoulder impingement syndrome, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative changes. The appeal regarding hypertension is remanded.

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 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 left eye disability has resulted in visual acuity of 5/200 and his nonservice-connected right eye resulted in visual acuity of light perception only. A 100 percent rating for traumatic glaucoma and cataract of the left eye is granted from August 9, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and missing evidence. The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, a foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and substance abuse disorder will be addressed again after additional examination and development.