Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset during his active duty and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability and service connection for lower back and neck disabilities are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and right femur disability, as well as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a penile disability, are also remanded due to outstanding medical records and further examination is needed.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral loss of sight secondary to his penile implant surgery is being remanded in conjunction with the other claims.,,,

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis and chondromalacia of the left knee, along with instability, have been rated at 10 percent since November 5, 2008. The Board denied an increased rating as his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or recurrent subluxation.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip strain with osteoarthritis, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, left ankle osteoarthritis, and right ankle osteoarthritis, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee chondromalacia and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, right shoulder condition, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to lack of available service records. The decision on the other issues remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and requests for an additional VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of left knee disability prior to February 7, 2014 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding no medical evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and opinions regarding her lumbar spine, sciatica, and dental conditions. The issues include secondary service connection based on her service-connected thoracolumbar strain and bruxism.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU due to new evidence and a vocational rehabilitation assessment indicating that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone rendered him incapable of securing and following substantially gainful employment. The case will be referred back to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder osteoarthritis due to new examinations being required.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent prior to June 22, 2019, and 40 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 15 degrees, or ankylosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to support secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination due to evidence suggesting worsening of symptoms since the last VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial ratings for ganglion cyst status post removal of the left wrist and degenerative arthritis of the right toe have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right, left knee and left hip disabilities are granted as service connected.,Service connection for residuals of lyme disease is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, service connection for bronchitis and allergic rhinitis, and entitlement to a TDIU due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent prior to August 9, 2011. A separate 10 percent rating for slight instability of the right knee is granted from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been granted, with some changes in the effective dates and ratings assigned.