Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran's difficulty sleeping is not considered a separate disability and thus, his claim for service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for anemia is denied because there is no evidence linking the condition to service or presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.,An opinion is needed regarding whether generalized osteoarthritis is related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip and knee conditions, as well as any aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected disabilities.,The claim for numbness of the hands remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and insufficient medical evidence on file. The claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's claim for a maximum 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage of the right knee is granted. The issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for painful limitation of motion associated with right knee chondromalacia and instability are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which includes lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc and arthritis, is rated at 40 percent effective as of the date of this decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The RO granted an increased 20 percent rating effective March 13, 2019.

The Veteran's right clavicle fracture with osteoarthritis of the right shoulder was initially rated at 20 percent and denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's right thumb disability has not been manifested by a gap of more than two inches between the thumb pad and the fingers, with the thumb attempting to oppose the fingers. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability and awarded a 30 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis and intervertebral disc syndrome from March 29, 2018. The decision also denied an increased rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to February 5, 2020 and at 40 percent since that date.,Since June 22, 2012, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and neuropathy associated with his lumbar spine disability are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the November 2020 VA examination regarding all past and present foot disorders diagnosed, including osteoarthritis, gout, and DJD. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether each condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, if so, whether it was clearly and unmistakably NOT aggravated by service beyond the normal progression of the disease, and if not, whether it is at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical documentation of ranges of motion in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing, active and passive.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to need for further development, including additional evidence submission and consideration of new medical findings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and he was granted a TDIU effective October 1, 2020. His cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is rated at 60% and her hysterectomy is rated at 30%. Both conditions are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for COPD, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and hypertension due to incomplete personnel records from his service. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and schedule examinations to determine if the conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent from September 2, 2008 to July 15, 2016. A TDIU is granted beginning February 2, 2013.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limitations in motion and pain. The case was remanded for further action.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was denied, and his claim for TDIU was also denied as he did not meet the percentage requirements set forth in the schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to service and denied his claim. The right elbow pronation, left ankle sprain, right elbow calcific tendinosis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee patellar bone spur claims are remanded for further development.