Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider functional loss in determining the appropriate rating for the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. The issue is remanded for further development.,Service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied due to lack of exposure to herbicides in service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary bypass surgery was also denied as there is no evidence of onset within a year of separation from service or causal relationship.,Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was reopened based on new evidence suggesting an onset within one year of service. The Veteran's other conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hip conditions, and bilateral knee disorders, render him unemployable. The Board granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to overuse during military service.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including medial collateral ligament instability of the right knee and osteoarthritis of the left knee, are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions as they do not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings based on limitation of motion or other manifestations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, hip, foot, knee, and shoulder disabilities as they are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection was denied because there is no evidence of any diagnosed condition in service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and granted restoration of the left knee calcification rating from 20% to 10%, effective December 1, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, lumbar strain, and tinnitus are all dismissed as they were granted with a final effective date of December 1, 2015.,The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure is denied because new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's right and left sciatic nerve pain is not service-connected, as it is caused by his nonservice-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran was employed prior to March 22, 2017, which precludes a TDIU at that time.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a headache disorder is granted. The claims for skin disorder, menstrual disorder, and polyarthritis palindromic rheumatism are remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is presumed to be related to service due to continuity of symptoms since within one year after service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's diagnosed lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is at least as likely as not related to his military service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disabilities prior to April 10, 2017 are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability characterized as bilateral Achilles tendon spur formation with Achilles tendinitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral first MTP joint osteoarthritis. The condition is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right ankle disability, as he had moderate limitation of motion and no marked limitation. His knee disabilities also did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right wrist osteoarthritis, but remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to lack of medical records.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to properly assess the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as their impact on his TDIU claim. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis of both knees, and instability of both knees have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for each condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that there is not clear and unmistakable evidence that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.