Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee arthritis.,Service connection for the left knee arthritis is granted, but a rating in excess of 10% is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability and osteoarthritis are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and service treatment records in determining whether his current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to a lack of recent VA examination and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, obstructive lung disease and back disability due to outstanding VA medical records not being obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since at least August 20, 2002.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU from August 20, 2001 to August 20, 2002 for referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

PTSD/anxiety was rated at 50 percent from September 11, 2012 to September 13, 2018 and increased to 70 percent effective November 7, 2019.,Left knee degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent from September 11, 2012 to July 24, 2013. Residuals of left knee replacement were rated at 60 percent effective November 27, 2018.

The Veteran's initial increased rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted from January 6, 2020 to present. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's interstitial cystitis is rated as 40 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The low back disability and gastrointestinal conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a left lower extremity disability as secondary to sarcoidosis and a right lower extremity disability as secondary to sarcoidosis, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and sarcoid arthropathy of the low back.,An effective date earlier than April 17, 2012, for the grant of service connection for a right hip disability is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability. After considering all submitted evidence, the Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to active duty service.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar disorder has been linked to an injury that pre-dated service, when a car fell on the Veteran’s back. The kidney disorder may have existed prior to service entrance.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis were denied, but she was granted a 10 percent rating for her right and left knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the spine is causally related to his military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine, LLE radiculopathy, and RLE radiculopathy have been granted disability ratings with effective dates from November 25, 2013 to March 1, 2020 for the former conditions, and from January 23, 2018 to March 1, 2020 for the latter. The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current chronic low back disability is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lower back condition, left lower extremity sensory deficit prior to May 25, 2017, a rating in excess of 40 percent for his left lower extremity sensory deficit from May 25, 2017, and entitlement to TDIU prior to May 25, 2017. Additional development is required as the evidence indicates that relevant VA records have not been associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claim for a low back disorder, finding that there are insufficient opinions regarding direct service connection and secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms during service have been considered.