Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left ankle disability was granted a 20 percent rating from January 7, 2019 onwards. His right knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's paraplegia is proximately due to or a result of his service-connected lumbar spine conditions, and whether it is aggravated by those conditions. The VA must provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees based on a finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral syndrome due to inadequate examination findings, requiring additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back and bilateral lower extremities neurological disorders. Service connection is being remanded for multiple joint arthritis, left upper extremity neurological disorder, and right upper extremity neurological disorder.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for purposes of adjudicating the Veteran's claims on appeal and remands them for further development. The issues include service connection for spinal nerve degeneration with pain and numbness, back condition and degenerative arthritis of the spine; dermatitis or eczema and onychomycosis of the toenails; and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine were denied. Prior to November 22, 2019, he was granted a 20% disability rating. From that date onwards, his claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and a right shoulder disability due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors in service. Service connection was also denied for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as they were not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,For the period prior to December 6, 2016, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, along with other service-connected conditions, is rated at 40 percent. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for left knee mild osteoarthritis and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress as they have been granted in a previous rating decision.,Service connection is granted for chronic sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea, both of which are found to be related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine is dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for her service-connected right elbow osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent for limitation of flexion and extension, or an increased rating for impairment of supination and pronation. The maximum available rating under the applicable diagnostic codes was assigned.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee conditions has been denied.,For the period prior to December 7, 2016, the Veteran is already receiving a 10 percent rating. For the period from December 7, 2016 through December 20, 2019, he is rated at 20 percent. From December 20, 2019 to present, his condition warrants no more than a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability and provide a full description of all relevant pathology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for left hand erosive osteoarthritis of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including upper and lower jawbone loss, status post nasal cartilage fracture with anosmia, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative joint disease, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain and degenerative joint disease, and lumbosacral strain. The Board found the evidence did not support a service connection for these conditions.