Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, and his left ankle degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent. The right and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within VA standards.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for nummular eczema has been denied due to the lack of intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees are granted. The claim for a higher initial evaluation than 30 percent for chronic sinusitis is also granted.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, is related to an injury incurred during active duty and that symptoms have continued since then. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development.,A separate disability rating of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted effective February 14, 2020. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy also received a 10 percent rating effective February 14, 2020.,The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran’s employment and educational history.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran’s left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of more than mild incomplete paralysis.,Prior to February 7, 2017, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent. After February 7, 2017, it has been rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of more than moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran’s scars from lumbar spine surgery are currently rated at 0 percent and the claim for a compensable rating was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The left knee and right knee osteoarthritis, as well as the lumbosacral sprain with degenerative arthritis, are all rated at their maximum allowable levels.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. A new examination focusing on the Veteran's left knee and his accompanying statements regarding pain will be required.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to increased ratings for his right shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities. The heart disability issue is also addressed. The decision grants an initial rating of 10 percent for the right shoulder prior to November 6, 2018, but denies a higher rating thereafter. Separate initial ratings are granted for the right knee and right hip. Service connection for a heart disability is remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied prior to January 17, 2020.,A subsequent increase in the rating to 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left knee from January 17, 2020 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and missing treatment records. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being evaluated again for an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further evaluation, including a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss and additional medical records for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for chondromalacia of the right patella with degenerative changes and instability, and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the left patella due to inadequate VA examination findings.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for the period prior to November 12, 2019, and at 40 percent beginning November 12, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it is attributable to service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service and insufficient competent evidence linking it to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's bone-related disabilities, including osteoid osteoma, osteomyelitis, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and diffuse osteoarthritis, are remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination.