Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran is granted TDIU from October 17, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, finding that the current diagnoses of degenerative osteoarthritis were not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right hip disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The new examinations are needed to address the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities, including knee, back, and hip conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted initial separate ratings of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003-5260 from December 31, 2008 to June 19, 2016 for degenerative arthritis of the left knee status post anterior cruciate ligament repair and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003-5260 from June 20, 2016 for degenerative arthritis, status post anterior cruciate ligament repair, left knee was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003-5260 from June 20, 2016 for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was granted. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent from June 20, 2016 to July 10, 2017 for degenerative arthritis, right knee, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter under Diagnostic Code 5257 was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and right knee disorder, including as secondary to the left knee disorder. The Veteran appealed this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee conditions, including degenerative arthritis and tendinitis, are related to service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his condition had its onset during service or is related to service.,Claims for increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis with shin splints are denied. The Veteran’s knees have never been shown to meet the criteria for higher than 10 percent ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.,A separate 10 percent rating is granted for left knee instability effective July 8, 2019.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities, including supraspinatus tendinosis and degenerative joint disease, are rated at 20% each since May 23, 2007.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been granted a 20 percent rating since January 13, 2020. The condition is manifested by pain and limited motion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a finding of an in-service event or injury relating to the right shoulder. The Board also found that the current right shoulder disabilities are not proximately due to or aggravated by his cervical spine fusion.

The Veteran's right hand fracture with degenerative joint disease and right wrist arthritis have been rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear medical opinions and a need for further development regarding the Veteran's left hand and wrist conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment, and the TDIU rating is granted. The appeal for an increased disability rating for his back condition including degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and an unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

Right and left hip osteoarthritis are granted as service-connected.,Avascular necrosis of the right and left hips is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The rating for lumbar disability was denied prior to January 14, 2020, and from that date forward. The claim for LLE radiculopathy also failed. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and bilateral lateral collateral ligament sprains, finding that these conditions are directly related to incidents during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied, while his secondary service connection claim for a neurological disability of the lower extremities (classified as neuralgia) was granted.,The Board found that the Veteran’s complaints of nerve pain in the lower extremities are likely due to his service-connected low back disorder.