Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for left knee instability from September 12, 2016 and denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions. The specific issues include diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis of the sacroiliac joint, diverticulitis, rheumatoid arthritis, storage mite syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral shoulder strain.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings in a Statement of the Case, which led to dismissal of all pending issues.

The Board has denied increased ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's functional loss does not warrant a higher rating. The TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment status.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and bilateral hearing loss, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating and TDIU due to his service-connected left knee disability. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his left knee condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased evaluations of osteoarthritis associated with left and right knee ACL reconstructions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine has been rated at 20 percent prior to March 14, 2020 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, spondylolisthesis, and lumbosacral spine strain with bilateral radiculopathy (claimed as sciatic nerve condition), finding that there was no nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has found that the VA examination was not conducted as per the previous remand instructions and thus, the matter is being remanded again for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, are currently rated at 10 percent for each knee. The rating is granted as the conditions meet the criteria of direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been granted a rating of 10 percent, effective April 9, 2010. Service connection for peroneal neuropathy of the left lower extremity is also granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is related to his active duty military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine or low back disorder, finding that the current disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral arthralgia of the ankles and remanded the issue of service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. However, several issues remain pending and need further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's dental disorder. The issues related to increased evaluations for service-connected hip and knee conditions are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for specific phobia, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.