Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection and rating for the Veteran's ankle strains and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to September 6, 2019 and from September 6, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent throughout the period on appeal.,Service connection for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities is granted from December 21, 2010. TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left shoulder and forearm disabilities are related to a fall in service. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician accepting the Veteran's reports of falls during service.

The Veteran's case was remanded due to the RO not considering all relevant evidence, including a VA examination report and private treatment records. The issue of rating more than 20 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis since May 19, 2014 is now being reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, is due to an in-service accident and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial 20% evaluation for left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear prior to September 15, 2015 is granted. The Veteran's higher than 30% evaluation for status post left knee replacement after October 1, 2016 is denied. TDIU prior to January 1, 2012 is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hand condition, left ear hearing loss, and degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome are all granted service connection. The decision on left ear hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist osteoarthritis, right hand strain, and a right upper extremity neurological disability (carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy) as these conditions are proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for a scheduled examination. The Veteran is advised that she may have adverse effects on her appeal if she fails to cooperate with further attempts to schedule an examination or does not report for any scheduled VA examination without good cause shown.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right ankle disorder, finding that there is no nexus between his current right ankle arthritis and strain and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis prior to April 13, 2012 and his TDIU claim prior to April 22, 2014 were both denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right foot conditions have been denied. The highest schedular rating of 10 percent has been granted for each condition, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and a respiratory disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have such conditions during or within one year after his military service.,There is no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms between the Veteran's military service and his current diagnoses.

The Veteran's left knee eburnation osteoarthritis bone spur is now rated at 40 percent disabling from March 26, 2020. His right knee eburnation osteoarthritis bone spur remains at a 10 percent rating since the effective date of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion from the VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability. The Veteran is requested to undergo a new VA examination for her claimed condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating for the entire increased rating period from April 15, 2014. The right shoulder disability remains remanded and TDIU appeal is deferred until further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical inquiry due to incomplete addressing of previous directives.

The Board denied service connection for right-hip disorder, finding that the Veteran's current hip condition is not related to his military service and is more likely due to natural progression of osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee degenerative arthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis have been denied. A separate rating of 10 percent has been granted for instability secondary to service-connected left ankle and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, along with other service-connected conditions, has resulted in a 70 percent disability rating since September 2, 2016. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's inability to maintain substantial gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.