Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service exostosis surgery.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board also remanded the claim for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff tear with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of range of motion assessment during a period of repetitive use.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability and a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with L5-S1 synovial facet cyst and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus, alcohol abuse, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip condition, left hip osteoarthritis, right sciatica, left sciatica, bilateral leg disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis contributed substantially and/or materially to his death. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion considering all relevant evidence, including articles submitted by the Veteran and a private physician’s opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for low back disability rated as 10 percent disabling from September 19, 2011 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for low back disability rated as 20 percent disabling from December 10, 2012 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 13, 2013 was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder, including osteoarthritis of the right ankle, was incurred in or related to service. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this condition began during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, including a lack of review of the service treatment records and private medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was denied prior to October 17, 2018. From January 1, 2019 onwards, the Veteran received an increased rating of 30 percent.,The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further adjudication on the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability resulting from service-connected disability (TDIU).

The Board denied a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis and left knee scars, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected back and bilateral lower extremity disabilities render him in need of the daily care of another, as he requires assistance with ambulation, homemaking activities, and personal hygiene due to his physical incapacity.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the current diagnoses are not related to an in-service injury and exposure. The claim was based on direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot osteoarthritis due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his service-connected left little toe fracture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left arm, right arm, and wrist conditions have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for these conditions. However, he was diagnosed with shoulder conditions during his VA examinations. These cases are being remanded to clarify whether the Veteran has any current diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating prior to May 6, 2014, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder condition with arthritis, back condition with osteoarthritis, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and coronary artery disease (CAD), and right foot condition due to outstanding medical records from Wyoming Health Care Center.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also remanded the cases of increased rating for right knee strain with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, as well as a compensable disability rating for her right knee scar.