Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder (including degenerative arthritis), and gout due to duty to assist errors in obtaining relevant medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle condition is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of hands or feet, ankylosis of knees or hips, or vision impairment.

The Board denied entitlement to a temporary 100 percent evaluation for service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, status post November 17, 2017 total knee replacement. The Veteran's appeal was granted for the left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right hip disorder and his service-connected left leg, left foot, left thigh, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right hip disorder that he contends is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident or secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him limited to marginal employment, and therefore unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. A TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, secondary to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need for further development. His claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including anterior cruciate ligament tear and osteoarthritis, is rated at 20 percent effective April 5, 2004. The rating for limitation of flexion remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Board also remanded for further development regarding service connection for other conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2018 VA examination. The case will be returned for an updated evaluation and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The Veteran's service connection claim for a left foot disability, diagnosed as pes planus, hallux valgus, and plantar fasciitis, was granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete examinations and the need for additional medical records. The issues of service connection are being reviewed, as well as initial disability ratings.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left hip and pelvic osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain, and bipolar disorder are service connected. However, due to a remand for further development of his gastrointestinal condition, which is secondary to his back, hip, and pelvic conditions as well as his mental health condition, this issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for arthralgia of the lower back (post lumbar disc) has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue regarding the compensable rating for left hip osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with residuals of degenerative arthritis is rated at 30 percent from September 1, 2016 and granted prior to May 20, 2016.,A rating in excess of 30 percent is denied from March 6, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for bilateral foot condition, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and earlier effective dates, including for her heart condition, left shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, and limitation of motion in her elbows. The specific nature of these issues is not provided.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings, with the case being remanded for further examination.,Service connection for a left wrist condition (claimed as cyst/benign growth) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The appeal is now pending with instructions to provide an addendum opinion.