Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained for a proper evaluation of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis with IVDS is currently rated at 40 percent, effective from May 15, 2019. The appeal for higher ratings and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of glaucoma, bilateral ankle disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, heart disability, hypertension, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the left hip, and peripheral neuropathy are all pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with IVDS is rated at 40% since January 8, 2010. Effective September 1, 2012, the Veteran was granted a TDIU and eligibility for DEA benefits due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, effective date for a left wrist disability, and ratings for hypertension and right foot ganglion cyst removal. The case is returned to the AOJ for review of additional VA treatment records submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions, as he reported worsening symptoms since the last examination in 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of service connection remain unresolved and are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his radiculopathy, left lower extremity and knee degenerative arthritis was dismissed. The issues of increased evaluations for left knee and right knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition has been manifested by pain on motion and limited flexion.

The Veteran's allergy disorder manifested by chronic cough, hypertension, and bilateral knee disability (osteoarthritis) are all granted service connection. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a low back disorder, finding that the current diagnoses are not related to in-service injuries and there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or after service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also considered to be related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for tinnitus as the VA examiner found no evidence of its occurrence during service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of the right knee with patellofemoral pain syndrome, Osgood-Schlatter’s disease and genu recurvatum.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's functional impairment from his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unemployable due to these conditions. The examiner must consider all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, except for left knee degenerative arthritis, during the period from May 15, 2018 to July 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not addressed as they were previously decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 5, 2012 for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with contusion and degenerative arthritis (lumbar strain) is denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's disability rating claims.

The Board has denied higher staged ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, currently rated as 10 percent from July 27, 2006, and 20 percent from March 23, 2009. The case is remanded due to insufficient evidence supporting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis and gout, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or to his service-connected prostate adenocarcinoma, diabetes mellitus (DM), and/or hypertensive vascular disease.,Specifically, the Board noted that there is no medical evidence showing a link between the Veteran's current osteoarthritis and gout diagnoses and his in-service service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate March 2018 VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lower back disorder. The Veteran needs a new medical examination to determine if his condition is related to military service.