Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, left foot arthritis, right wrist osteoarthritis, and an upper respiratory disability due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates related to various conditions, including a back scar, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hepatitis C. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of the lumbar spine disability is granted with a 20% rating from January 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's nephrolithiasis was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and his right knee disability, osteoarthritis of the left and right achilles tendons are also not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling for flexion and noncompensable for extension. The ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with pain, including any associated neurological abnormalities and functional limitations.

The Veteran's spine conditions are being remanded for additional evaluations and consideration of his TDIU claim due to the inextricability between these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as they are not severe enough to prevent sedentary work.

The Board has granted service connection on a secondary basis for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea as they are found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of August 9, 2011. The claim for right hip disability remains pending and denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was granted with an effective date of March 26, 2019. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is now rated at 30 percent, effective February 17, 2020. His low back disability remains rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran does not have chronic residual right foot disability due to a cheilectomy of the right foot performed at the West Los Angeles VAMC on August 10, 2007. The Board found that the evidence did not show additional disability resulting from this surgery.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and instability were not rated higher than 10 percent prior to May 26, 2015.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis and instability were not rated higher than 10 percent at any time during the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum medical opinion to consider the Veteran's reported limitations of motion during flare-ups and with repetitive use over time.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not currently severe enough to warrant a compensable disability rating.,Service connection for low back osteoarthritis and left knee arthritis are both denied as the evidence does not establish that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's left elbow degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, and his PTSD is rated at the maximum allowable under the rating criteria. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded this case due to the inadequacy of a previous medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to his military service. The Veteran needs a new examination and an informed opinion on the matter.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, and the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected knee disabilities are remanded.