Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including right knee instability and left knee postoperative degenerative symptoms. The remand is due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

Service connection granted for osteoarthritis of lumbosacral spine and degenerative disc and joint disease of the neck.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to her in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities have been granted. The rating assigned is 10%.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion of the right thigh, and limitation of rotation of the right thigh are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a rating in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected right knee post traumatic degenerative disease requiring total knee replacement. The claim to reopen the skin condition was remanded, and the increased rating for residuals of malaria issue is pending.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially granted a 20 percent rating prior to March 23, 2016. However, the claim for a higher rating since that date is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, which was related to his military service. The rating assigned is 30%.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis (claimed as right shoulder condition) due to lack of evidence showing it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including right ankle disability, lumbar disc syndrome, and sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to August 22, 2018 and remanded for further development due to insufficient information on his employability from that date forward.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, left knee meniscus tear, and right knee meniscus tear are all rated at 10 percent each.,Service connection for depression is granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for left knee disability with meniscal tear and osteoarthritis. The Veteran's initial rating of 20 percent for this condition was denied as there is no evidence of entitlement to a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for degenerative arthritis of both hands and hips.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted with a separate rating of 20 percent for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The other issues are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted with a separate rating of 20 percent for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The other issues are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case to consider a separate compensable rating for left shoulder numbness in conjunction with the claim for an increased rating for left shoulder osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disabilities and for a TDIU determination due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding functional loss due to flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was reliably diagnosed during service and is presumed to have been present due to its chronic nature, thus granting service connection.