Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding it at least as likely as not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The right hip disability claim is denied as there is no evidence of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed sinus disability, sleep disability, low back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The VA is required to provide a new examination or opinion if it finds that the current evidence of record is inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress (also claimed as PTSD) was denied, and he is still rated at 70 percent. The Veteran also received SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic scoliosis, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by military service. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied as there is no competent evidence to support its occurrence within one year of separation from service or causation due to military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability resulted in recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, limitation of flexion, and pain and effusion. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability and a 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion from April 2009 forward.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for residuals of a left fifth finger fracture and degenerative arthritis of the left hand, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or arthritis affecting multiple joints.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative arthritis, is related to her service-connected bilateral hip strain. The examiner must also assess whether the lumbar disorder was caused or aggravated by her service-connected hip disability.

The Veteran's right ring finger disability is rated at 10 percent effective September 8, 2019. The condition affects both the major and minor joints of the right hand.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a bilateral ankle disability to include as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine disability are rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent prior to January 12, 2020 and at 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis, was found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to February 11, 2020. Effective February 11, 2020, he is granted a separate compensable evaluation of 20 percent for dislocated right knee semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's prostate disability is not related to his military service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran does not have a separate sleep disorder that is distinct from his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable and the Board finds no basis for granting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his service connection claim for a back disorder, as well as an evaluation of his right knee degenerative arthritis. The current uniform 30 percent evaluation for the right knee condition remains unchanged.

The Veteran's thoracic spine, right knee, left hip, and right hip degenerative arthritis are all found to be aggravated by his service-connected left knee, left peroneal nerve, and bilateral foot disabilities. A 20 percent rating is granted for the residuals of left knee injury with recurrent dislocation from December 18, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee, status post total knee arthroplasty, is not service-connected as it was not shown to be incurred or aggravated during his active duty service and there is no evidence linking it to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the June 2013 rating decision is sufficient to readjudicate claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for back pain, hemorrhoids, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis should be remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining service treatment records.

The Board has found pre-decisional errors in the denial of service connection for various conditions and has ordered remand to obtain necessary examinations and opinions.