Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for osteoarthritis of the right knee with medial meniscal tear, instability of the left knee, and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine are being remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right mid-thigh lower extremity amputation and entitlement to automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to a lack of an adequate VA medical opinion regarding these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate VA medical opinions, unclear duty status during relevant periods, and need for additional development including translation of non-English documents.

The Veteran is seeking clothing allowances for knee and back braces due to service-connected disabilities. The Board has granted allowances for the use of left and right knee braces but remanded the issue regarding a back brace.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for left hip disorder and right knee osteoarthritis. The issues are related to whether these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot and knee conditions, finding that the Veteran's pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated by in-service activities. The neuropathy of the feet is not related to service, while the knee osteoarthritis is attributed to intercurrent causes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis (low back disability), finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current low back disability and his active duty service or a service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding retrospective ranges of motion and additional functional impairment since 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine are granted a 10 percent rating prior to January 9, 2020. No higher rating is warranted for any time period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left knee, left knee instability, and total left knee replacement are all denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for her total left knee replacement since April 1, 2016.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to complete the development required in previous Board remands, specifically referring the issue of TDIU prior to July 10, 2014, on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral knee condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the previous November 2013 opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, muscle spasms, osteoarthritis, and neurologic symptoms in the upper extremities as they are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to his service, specifically during periods of active duty training. The AOJ must obtain new medical opinions and provide the Veteran with information on the qualifications of the December 2019 examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The claim for service connection for a bone disability, including osteopenia, is being remanded again.

The Board granted a 30% disability rating for right knee instability from December 13, 2019. The Veteran's previous ratings were denied as they did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is granted. The claim for an increased rating of 30 percent for tinea versicolor, prior to September 16, 2014, is also granted. However, the claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for tinea versicolor, from September 16, 2014, is denied. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle conditions have been rated as 10 percent each, with separate ratings for instability. The appeal is remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran’s left and right knees are currently rated at 10 percent based on osteoarthritis and instability.