Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The issues include a back disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic vasomotor rhinitis.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated and remanded multiple times. The RO restored the 20% rating for post-AACL reconstruction effective August 1, 2018. Other ratings were denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's knees, requesting additional development and an addendum opinion from the August 2019 VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service and whether it is aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability or amputation of both feet.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of functional loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to July 28, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular criteria. From July 28, 2014, the Board granted a TDIU based on the evidence showing that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right and left thumb disabilities have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling.,Service connection for a chronic upper respiratory infection has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA examination and the Veteran's contention of knee instability. The Veteran is being asked to provide updated private or VA treatment records, and an appropriate VA examination will be conducted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and bilateral foot disorder have been remanded due to new evidence received since the previous decisions. The Board will now evaluate these claims in light of all available evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left hip and bilateral knee disabilities. The right hip disability is related to his antalgic gait caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint is causally related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected lumbar spine disability did not result in marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalizations to render impractical the application of regular schedular standards.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling from August 22, 2014. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition due to lack of evidence showing more than limited range of motion and pain.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's current rating for hepatitis C and lumbar osteoarthritis with IVDS are both at their maximum allowed levels, effective November 15, 2001 and August 11, 2015 respectively. The Veteran’s PTSD remains rated at the highest level of disability.,The Veteran's left ankle and knee disabilities have not been service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that these conditions had their onset during active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and dismissed the appeal regarding skin tags and warts. The issues of service connection for a respiratory disorder, sinusitis, and rhinitis are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for right shoulder labral tear with mild degenerative arthritis before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck and back conditions, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.