Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee limitation of flexion is denied. His claim for a 10 percent evaluation as of January 15, 2013, for right knee instability (lateral) is granted. The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent as of July 24, 2019, for right knee instability (lateral) and his claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent as of the same date for limitation of right knee extension are both denied. His service connection claim for asthma is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than specific dates have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for initial disability ratings in excess of specific percentages have also been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, status post laminectomy. The initial compensable disability rating for left arm scar is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's complaints of right knee instability and additional range of motion loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded. His TDIU claim is granted effective February 4, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and unclear opinions regarding functional loss. The Veteran is also being asked to provide more information about his employment status.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee condition and remanded the issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's current diagnosis of left knee degenerative arthritis is not etiologically related to his active service, including as due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to in-service injuries and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied increased ratings for the non-dominant left elbow disability and osteoarthritis of the left elbow, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased disability rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle conditions are being remanded due to the submission of additional VA records. The AOJ will need to readjudicate these claims and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case if necessary.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence linking her current degenerative arthritis, right shoulder disability, and iron deficiency anemia to her military service. The claims are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent since June 30, 2015. The appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection and remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions, including right knee arthroscopy with chondromalacia, right knee scar status post arthroscopy, left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's left hip resurfacing with degenerative arthritis is granted a 30 percent rating, while the right hip arthroplasty with degenerative arthritis remains at a 50 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right knee osteoarthritis, status-post total knee replacement. The conditions are deemed to have resulted from the Veteran's activities and injuries during active duty service.

The Veteran's headaches increased rating claim is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for his service-connected headaches.,SMC benefits are granted from March 20, 2014, given that the Veteran has a service-connected disability rated as total and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and sleep apnea conditions, are found to be causally related to his psychiatric disorder. Effective dates for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for shingles/herpes and degenerative arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection is based on new evidence, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that neither condition met the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent or 20 percent based on limitation of motion.