Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for additional opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right lower extremity disorders, including whether they are caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, is now service connected.,The radiculopathy affecting the Veteran’s bilateral lower extremities is also now service connected.,The left knee degenerative joint disease is now service connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability, finding that there is no medical evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim. The remaining issues of rating for left knee arthritis, left knee scar, and right knee scar are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to reopen them. The effective dates for some of these claims were not established.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between current symptoms and active duty service.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral knee disorder, concluding that there is insufficient evidence linking current knee issues to in-service activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip condition, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking it to military service.,The Board also remanded the issues of left knee and lower back conditions secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis was denied. From September 30, 2014 to May 20, 2019, he received an initial 20 percent rating for his right knee meniscal condition and from February 9, 2017 to May 20, 2019, he received a 10 percent rating for his right knee genu recurvatum.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied sleep disorder claim has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The issues of service connection for an eye disorder, rating for asthma, cervical spine disability before March 13, 2017, rating for cervical spine disability since March 13, 2017, rating for GERD, and TDIU before March 1, 2017 are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the hips and knees, finding no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation during active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The Appellant's current diagnoses were not related to her military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder disability and his in-service injury. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's left knee disability to service. The Veteran is requested to undergo a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis with heel spur was granted a temporary increased rating of 20 percent from December 18, 2017 to November 18, 2018. The condition is now denied for higher ratings. Service connection for secondary neurologic disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the reduction in ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities was improper, and the original ratings are restored. The issues of increased ratings for both conditions and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee internal derangement, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, and right leg/knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any current disability was related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder DJD, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability are all presumed to have been incurred during his active service.

The Veteran's request for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities has been granted, with the exception of a rating in excess of 20% for limitation of flexion due to right knee status post arthroscopy. The restoration of 20% evaluations for both knees is effective as of January 24, 2020.