Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD, PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the entire appeal period prior to December 19, 2013. As a result, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period from February 17, 2015 to January 28, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities of degenerative arthritis of the lumber spine, left hip condition with limited flexion, bilateral knee replacements, hypertension, ischemic cerebral vascular accident, left hip osteoarthritis with trochanteris pain and hearing loss. The effective date was set at February 17, 2015.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated based on the severity of his symptoms, with a 10% rating for limited flexion and a 20% rating for a torn medial meniscus since March 28, 2019. The extension issue is not applicable as it was resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart condition, degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions addressing continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, arthritis, and a nerve condition. The Board has withdrawn some claims and remanded others for further review.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is considered to have started during service and is granted as service connected.

Your claims for lumbar spine, left leg, and right leg disabilities have been granted. The Board does not have jurisdiction over these issues as they are no longer in dispute.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on arthritis with limitation of motion. The RO has remanded the claims for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis, finding that it began during his active duty and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent combined (20 percent under Code 5258 and 20 percent under Code 5261) from August 13, 2020 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities as they are not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral foot condition, and back condition due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen the claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg disability and an increased rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The Veteran's left leg condition was not found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and his cervical spine disability did not result in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 1, 2016 for right knee loss of flexion is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 29, 2015 for right knee instability is granted. The RO also granted service connection for status post right knee replacement effective July 26, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran currently has this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome, osteoarthritis, subluxation and instability, is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.