Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The petition to reopen the claims for service connection for a back condition and left knee degenerative arthritis is granted. The appeal is granted to that extent only.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered in relative equipoise with his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, leading to a determination that his back condition is at least as likely as not related to this service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his left knee disability, as well as TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to show that his pre-existing right knee disorder was permanently aggravated by active service.

The reduction of the rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper, and a restoration of a 20 percent rating is granted. The Board also found that service connection for bilateral hip disabilities should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper and lower extremities, as well as his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left eye disability, have been dismissed.,An effective date of December 17, 1999 has been granted for the award of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The original denial was based on lack of evidence, but new evidence has been submitted suggesting a possible link between the current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of recent medical records and need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left hip femoral neck stress fracture.

The Veteran's low back disorder is rated at 40 percent from July 1, 2011 to August 15, 2018.,Prior to September 17, 2013, the Veteran’s cervical spine disorder was rated at 10 percent. From September 17, 2013, it is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's left knee sprain and right knee strain are each rated at 10 percent from July 1, 2011 to August 15, 2018.,Prior to April 5, 2017, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for colorectal adenocarcinoma and gout, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active duty service. The right testicular varicocele, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left knee disability (tendinosis), and right knee disability (tendinosis and chondromalacia) claims are remanded for further development.,The appellant's current diagnoses include colorectal adenocarcinoma, gout, a right testicular varicocele, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left knee tendinosis, and right knee tendinosis and chondromalacia. The Board has found that these conditions are not related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (claimed as high cholesterol), carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and left hand. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee injury, including right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear and degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability did not develop as a result of any incident or injury in service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis is related to service, and thus granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded two cases involving osteoarthritis of the left and right knees for further examination to ensure that the examinations comply with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a 100 percent disability rating granted from September 1, 2015, through May 31, 2016, for her left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's active service was etiologically related to his osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her service-connected right knee disability was granted, with a 20% rating for limitation of flexion prior to May 29, 2018 and a separate 20% rating for subluxation and instability. A 100% rating was granted following total knee arthroplasty on May 29, 2018.

The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to lack of evidence showing a need for regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathies (sciatic) associated with lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome have been rated at 20 percent each. The Board denied an increased rating for these conditions.