Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, a right eye disability (specifically cataracts), and hay fever and allergies. The claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions' onset during or shortly after service.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is rated at 20 percent effective July 1, 2014. The right knee osteoarthritis remains rated at 10 percent prior to July 1, 2014 and the Appellant has appealed for a higher rating. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the back and hips, as secondary to service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle condition, finding that the evidence did not support ankylosis and thus no higher rating was warranted under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher disability ratings for right ankle, sacroiliac joint, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, were denied. He was granted separate 10% ratings for each knee under Diagnostic Code 5257 effective January 7, 2019.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent disability rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, effective from January 11, 2016. The previous rating prior to this date was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation status post-surgical repair with osteoarthritis, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 22, 2019. The remand requires additional examinations and development of the claims.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded. The case will be readjudicated, including the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his back disability prior to December 12, 2011 is dismissed as the April 2017 Board decision granted a 60 percent rating effective December 12, 2011 and the Veteran's representative stated that this satisfies their appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for IVDS prior to May 25, 2018 was denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 31, 2019 for service connection of radiculopathy affecting the left and right femoral nerves were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase rating in his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding range of motion and additional functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show regulation of activities as part of medical management, thus denying a 40 percent evaluation.,For his right knee disability, the Veteran had an initial increase to 20 percent from June 17, 2014. However, he is now seeking higher evaluations for different periods and conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spondylosis was denied. The VA granted a 50% rating for insomnia from May 24, 2017 to January 27, 2020.,From January 28, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for insomnia with major depressive disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sinusitis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and bilateral foot condition due to incomplete development.

The Board has found that the VA examination and opinions are inadequate, requiring a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to service or secondary to his cervical spine condition.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection and secondary service connection for his right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected conditions.