Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and restoration of a rating have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being made.

The Veteran's left great toe disorder, manifested as hallux rigidus, has not met the criteria for a higher rating since December 1, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left knee, lumbar spine, and right knee conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s lumbar spine condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The claims for left ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, left hand degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis (bilateral), right knee degenerative arthritis (bilateral), left wrist degenerative arthritis, and right wrist degenerative arthritis are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has reinstated service connection for PTSD and granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied additional attorney fees based on past-due benefits granted in an August 2019 rating decision, as the appellant has already received the attorney fees based on the past-due benefits awarded to the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand disability, including traumatic osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the right ring finger (fourth metacarpal), is rated at 0% since June 5, 2009. The appeal is denied as there are no additional compensable evaluations available under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and revision of a rating decision are dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for his right shoulder condition is denied.

The Board dismissed multiple claims for increased evaluations due to the Veteran's death, as there is no surviving appellant.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion and instability. The appeal for a higher evaluation has been granted, but the evaluations remain at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar scoliosis. The Board also restored the Veteran's 20% rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for scars resulting from multiple contusions and lacerations, other than those affecting his left knee. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was also denied. However, a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as of July 13, 2015, was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and requires new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the claims for service connection of a right knee disability and a left eye disability (retinal detachment) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current conditions are related to service despite initial denial.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability was denied as there is no evidence of chronic or long-term headaches during active service, and the current condition is not related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability was granted as his current cervical strain and degenerative arthritis are at least as likely as not caused by carrying a radio on his back during active service.

The claim for service connection for a back condition is remanded. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the neck and an unspecified head condition manifested as bilateral hearing loss are also remanded. The issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for traumatic arthritis of the right knee remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the lumbar spine or current neurological impairments other than service-connected sciatica, and thus no higher rating was warranted.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for his right ankle disability and service connection for his right hip disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating, and there was no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for the right hip disability.