Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, including those from Community Care Consult, Pathways Acupuncture, The Core Institute, and fee outpatient records. Additional examinations are needed to assess the full range of motion for the Veteran's left knee and thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis deformans, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, finding that the current diagnosed conditions are not related to service and do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hand osteoarthritis is granted. The claim for rheumatoid arthritis in the upper extremities (specifically wrists) is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for OSA, hypertension, and headaches have been withdrawn. The claims of higher disability ratings for bilateral knee instability, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ring finger was denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that he had ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims of a rating greater than 10 percent for his left shoulder disability and service connection for bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 30% since the entire period on appeal. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (back disability) was initially rated at 40%, effective October 8, 2019 and denied for evaluation in excess of 40%. He also has hypertension which is rated at 10%.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, which he claims are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, left shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, right-hand trigger finger disability, and left-hand trigger finger disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service strenuous duties and medical opinions linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection due to his request to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and partial lateral meniscectomy, was denied. The RO assigned a 10 percent rating from January 1, 2011 to March 20, 2012; and from June 1, 2012 to August 27, 2012, for the service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine, secondary to cervical spine degenerative joint disease has been dismissed as the claim is not before the Board. The appeals for bilateral hand and wrist condition and bilateral foot and ankle condition are remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee arthralgia with osteoarthritis status-post total knee replacements are granted. The Board finds that the bilateral knee disorders were caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hammer toes with acquired pes cavus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating before June 14, 2017, for painful extension of the right knee and for a rating greater than 10 percent for his right knee disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined with the underlying increased rating claims.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, as the previous examination did not adequately address functional loss due to flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with Osgood Schlatters disease with instability is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and service connection for a left hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased level of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for a higher level of care at the rate specified under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC under any provisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking his current knee disabilities to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of a new examination.