Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him during the entire claim period from March 13, 2008 through August 30, 2017 and since November 1, 2017.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted a 20 percent rating, effective October 18, 2018. Service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for various health issues, including muscle pain, sleep disorders, hypertension, skin rashes, sinusitis, and headaches. The claims will be reviewed again with new evidence and expert opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from January 23, 2013 to October 15, 2018. The TDIU prior to January 23, 2013 is denied as his service-connected disability does not meet the criteria for a total rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but remands it to obtain a medical opinion regarding its relationship to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability on the basis that it is secondary to service-connected knee disabilities. The claims for left and right hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on range of motion or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine from June 1, 2017 is granted. Prior to that date, his disability picture did not meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral wrist condition and low back condition are not related to service, and denied both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for right hip trochanteric pain and left hip degenerative arthritis, as the claims were not filed within one year of the initial intent to file.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent since December 1, 2011.

The Veteran's right hip and right knee osteoarthritis disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral hips, knees, left shoulder, and thoracolumbar spine as there was no evidence showing a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show he had functional limitation consistent with a 20% rating, and thus, the preponderance of the evidence is against granting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service, or in the alternative, caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disorder and lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities. The right hip disorder and TDIU issues are remanded.