Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a torn anterior attachment of the medial meniscus and degenerative arthritis, warrants a separate 20 percent rating for cartilage/meniscus damage consistent with frequent findings of locking and pain. The increased rating for residuals of a left torn anterior attachment of the medial meniscus is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no competent and credible evidence of chronic knee problems since his inservice leg injury. The Board considered the VA examiner's opinion and found it persuasive.

The Board denied initial ratings greater than 10 percent for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that her range of motion did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's jaw disorder and vertigo are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tension headaches and multiple shoulder injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation.

The Board has found that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims due to issues related to his lumbar spine disability, including a need for an examination and retrospective opinion. The issues of increased ratings and earlier effective date are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings, but the appeal for higher ratings is denied. A TDIU has also been granted. Effective dates prior to April 23, 2014, for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one is required for determining the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right hip disability was dismissed because he died while the appeal was pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating for his right-toe condition and service connection for a bilateral knee condition due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain relevant records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left knee disability is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right ring finger fracture and degenerative arthritis of the right little finger due to incomplete examination reports and lack of nerve/sensory testing.

The Veteran's left rotator cuff tendonitis and left glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis are granted as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder dislocation and posttraumatic arthritis, status-post Bankhart procedure. The claim for an increased disability evaluation for the right shoulder is remanded.

The Veteran's right foot disability is rated at 30 percent, but no higher, prior to October 4, 2017. After that date, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for TDIU on a schedular basis is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to inadequate examination in February 2018. The examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently diagnosed foot disability had its onset during service or is otherwise etiologically related to such service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims. The initial rating for neurogenic urinary frequency prior to April 11, 2019 was granted with a 40 percent disability rating. However, the claim for a higher rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, stenosis, and IVDS beginning on April 11, 2019 is remanded.

The reduction of the disability rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective August 1, 2015 to April 26, 2017, was not proper and the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee instability, and lower extremity radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.