Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has found the initial disability rating for left knee joint osteoarthritis and the TDIU claim to be remanded due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, right knee, right ankle chronic lateral collateral ligament sprain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain is granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder dislocation injury (now diagnosed as degenerative arthritis) is denied.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is rated at a 20% evaluation since March 3, 2015. The rating was granted as his condition meets the criteria for marked limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, left ankle, and right ankle conditions. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and right knee disability were denied. The low back disability claim was remanded. The initial evaluations for the left knee and ankle sprain residuals are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's service records indicate he served as a helicopter repairer or repairman, which may be relevant to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for osteoarthritis status post right knee replacement (right knee disorder). The VA must obtain additional medical records, including those from the Walter Reed Army Hospital and private doctors. A VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the current right knee disorder is etiologically related to the April 1954 in-service assault or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The Board found that there is no evidence linking pancreatic or rectal cancer to military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for L2 compression fracture with lumbosacral strain was denied, and his increased rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis prior to May 14, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders as secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to assess the current severity of his left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee with instability.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip strain disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of his right foot. The claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the right foot remains on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia and remanded his increased rating claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for high cholesterol. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, left knee disability, right knee osteoarthritis, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU on a schedular basis from June 21, 2013 due to his service-connected right knee disability and PTSD with depression.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depression from June 8, 2019 is remanded. The issue of a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to June 21, 2013 is also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to June 21, 2013 is referred to the Director, Compensation Service for consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, testicular injury, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and acute myelogenous leukemia. The claims are based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has granted effective dates for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but has remanded for further development regarding earlier effective date claims for other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.,Service connection was granted for coronary artery disease (CAD), but the Board found no evidence of its onset during service or a causal relationship.