Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability has been rated at 10 percent since the decision, and a higher rating is denied as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for further development due to insufficient explanation of why he was not entitled to a knee disability rating for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, and for additional functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the left knee was initially filed on February 18, 2011. The effective date is set at April 26, 2016, as this is when the VA awarded service connection based on a new Intent to File submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right shoulders, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis in the left and right shoulders and insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of both knees due to incomplete VA examinations and scheduling issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate development in previous examinations. The issues include rheumatoid arthritis, right ankle osteoarthritis, and left ankle osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining medical records and workers' compensation records. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is also being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for various conditions, including a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a separate 10 percent rating for meralgia paresthetica. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, and gunshot wound residuals. However, the Veteran did not receive a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or a higher rating for his left knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of T12-L1 spine was denied as her disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's hallux valgus and left knee strain with osteoarthritis were rated at 10 percent prior to March 20, 2011. The Board found that the current ratings are appropriate given the evidence of record. However, the claim for a higher rating is remanded due to the lack of recent examination assessing the severity of left knee strain with osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his multi-level stenosis of the lumbar spine, hypertrophic DJD (arthritis) of the thumb, index, and long fingers of the right hand, hypertrophic DJD of the ring finger of the right hand, hypertrophic DJD of the little finger of the right hand, or fracture of the carpal scaphoid of the right wrist with osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical opinion in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee osteoarthritis have been rated at 10 percent each since April 6, 2012. The Board has granted separate ratings of 10 percent for instability in the knees, effective from April 6, 2012. For internal hemorrhoids, a noncompensable rating remains valid.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right elbow osteoarthritis, finding that his disability most nearly approximated the current 10 percent rating due to pain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for right traumatic ulnar neuropathy is granted as secondary to a service-connected disability.,Service connection for a right hand disorder, including degenerative arthritis, and a right shoulder disorder, including SLAP tear and degenerative arthritis, are denied as not related to the service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was also denied for atrophy, left kidney with cyst, as it is considered a congenital defect that pre-existed service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability was denied. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability is granted, but the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, a right leg disability, and a left leg disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations that address the current severity of his disabilities, including a discussion of his symptoms and limitations.