Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted. The issue of SMC for loss of use of a creative organ is remanded.

The Veteran's spouse is not found to have a factual need for aid and attendance due to her medical conditions, mobility issues, and financial management.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and related conditions have been evaluated as 20 percent disabling prior to June 29, 2018, and as 30 percent disabling from that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating based on additional limitation of motion or other factors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues related to his lower back, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of both knees.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claim for a lower back disability was reopened due to new evidence.,Service connection was not granted for the left knee or right knee disabilities as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for shin splints, bilateral pes planus, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and initial compensable rating for history of kidney stones requiring stent placement due to lack of evidence of current disabilities or functional impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, bilateral toe, low back, and neck disabilities. The reasons include that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between his current conditions and his active duty service or service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his spine disability.,Additional evidence and a retrospective medical opinion are required to determine the extent of functional loss due to flare-ups prior to January 24, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and assigned a 10 percent rating from June 30, 2008, to March 31, 2011, and a rating of 40 percent beginning April 1, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of right knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no nexus between his in-service injury and current disability.

The Veteran's left hallux valgus is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective December 8, 2010. The Board found that the evidence supported this rating based on moderate to severe symptoms of pain and functional impairment.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to incomplete documentation and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition, including status post OATS procedure with residual, patellar tendonitis, and degenerative arthritis. The issue of a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following surgery in January 2013 is also remanded.

The Board has granted the restoration of service connection for left knee strain and right knee strain, but remanded the cases regarding a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination results, specifically missing range of motion testing for pain during active and passive motion. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is still under review.

The Board has remanded two issues: the rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and service connection for a left hip disorder. The Veteran's left hip disorder is being examined to determine if it is aggravated by her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left third metacarpal and residuals, chip fracture, left second metacarpal with reflex sympathetic dystrophy and arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no additional limitation of motion or functional loss beyond what is already reflected in the current ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a sleep apnea examination. The issues of increased rating for back disability prior to May 24, 2018 and service connection for sleep apnea are pending.

The Veteran's hallux valgus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the left knee with history of chondromalacia patella does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the right knee with history of chondromalacia patella also does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.