Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 22, 2016 to June 5, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU subsequent to June 5, 2019 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for residuals, fracture of the left femur, with left patellectomy and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, as well as his degenerative arthritis of the right knee, were denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 30 percent rating for right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that the reduction to 10 percent was improper due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Board dismissed the issue of reducing the rating for spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine from 40 percent to 20 percent because it was only a proposal and not a decision on the merits.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, and his left and right knee osteoarthritis are both granted service connection. The increased rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his daily functioning. The Veteran needs an addendum opinion from a physician to determine if he is substantially confined or requires regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service or secondary aggravation by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's left wrist fracture with status post-operative residuals and degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, while his left wrist paresis associated with the same condition is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's left shoulder labral tear, including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion and arthritis, is rated at 30 percent. All three conditions are denied for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and disc disorder is related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, or if it is otherwise related to his active service. The Veteran needs a new examination and addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and bilateral pes planus. The claims are also remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate reasoning and lack of examination addressing functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his son's occupational therapist opinion and his own statements support a connection to his already service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and left ankle conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his unemployability is due to his service-connected conditions. The Board has referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current right knee problems are not related to his in-service parachute jumps and do not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis. The Board also remanded cases regarding initial disability ratings for lumbar spine spondylosis and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated at 20 percent since June 1, 2016. The Board denied all other claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent from March 18, 2010 to March 23, 2016 due to painful and noncompensable limitation of motion related to mild osteoarthritis.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for various service-connected disabilities, including eczematoid dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left hip disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, esophageal stricture with esophageal polyp and Schatzki's ring, and ventral hernia status post-surgery with rectus diastasis.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not begin during his military service or were otherwise caused by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and the need for a new addendum opinion considering the Veteran's lay assertions of continuity of symptomatology.