Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine strain and degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions.,Voiding dysfunction has been granted a separate 10 percent rating from February 22, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee meniscal tear with instability, and right knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

Your right knee condition, including torn meniscus status post repair with osteoarthritis, was granted service connection in a June 28, 2019 rating decision. However, your appeal for this issue is dismissed as moot because the claim has already been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, finding that it is not related to his service-connected conditions and does not have a direct relationship with his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right wrist disability was rated at 10 percent, while the back disability received a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and lack of addendum opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar osteoarthritis was granted. The claims for residuals of a nasal fracture and residuals of mercury exposure were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscal tear was granted with an effective date of March 15, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran had previously submitted a claim in September 2008 and provided relevant service records to reconsider the case.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold injury to bilateral hands and feet, as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's sleep disorder, which the Board found not related to active duty service. The Board noted that post-service medical records did not show any diagnosis of sleep apnea.,The Board determined that the Veteran’s low back disability is not service connected, as there is no evidence linking his current condition to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, except for the reopening of a low back disability claim and granting of service connection for a right testicular condition. Other conditions remain denied.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis (lumbar spine disability), asthma, and tension headaches. The effective dates were assigned based on the Veteran's requests.,The earlier effective date of April 30, 1999 for the grant of service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis was granted as requested by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hand and wrist disabilities, as well as the reopening of a claim for service connection for bilateral ankle disability due to inadequate previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted as there is no evidence of a claim prior to December 12, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and entitlement to TDIU prior to June 25, 2019 due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity for an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that there is at least an even balance of evidence supporting this claim.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because he did not meet the criteria of needing regular aid and attendance, nor was he considered to be housebound.,The Veteran's application for non-service-connected disability pension benefits was also denied due to his income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).

The Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, as well as his degenerative arthritis of the AC joints and cubital tunnel syndrome in the left elbow, are all granted. The Veteran's colitis is also granted.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for right and left hip replacements have been granted, with a rating of 50% effective February 1, 2015. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU prior to September 1, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for increases in the ratings for his service-connected spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The current rating of 40% is not higher than what has been assigned.