Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the service connection for a left shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims file must be reviewed by an appropriate clinician who will provide an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of any current left shoulder disabilities and distinguishing between service-related and post-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment from September 23, 2008 to March 28, 2010. An effective date of September 23, 2008 for the grant of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is granted.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was granted for an initial rating of 50 percent for anxiety disorder prior to November 4, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder disabilities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and review the expanded record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions were denied. The rating for the internal derangement with chondromalacia patella, status post meniscectomy was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to February 28, 2008. The rating for degenerative arthritis was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, right and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, and peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities have been granted. The exposure to Agent Orange is presumed.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, left knee ACL tear with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have worsened significantly since his last examinations. He should be reexamined to reassess the severity of these disabilities due to the significant time that has passed since those prior examinations. Additionally, a TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the claims for higher initial ratings for his low back and left and right knee disabilities.

The claim of service connection for a right knee disorder is granted, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also granted. The Veteran's current right knee condition is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability characterized as left meniscal tear, status post meniscectomy and a right knee disability characterized as degenerative arthritis.

Service connection for migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and Sjogren’s syndrome is denied.,An earlier effective date of May 31, 2005 for the grant of service connection for back disability is granted. A rating in excess of 20 percent for back disability remains denied.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are denied from August 15, 2016 to February 6, 2020. Ratings of 40 percent, but no higher, are granted beginning February 7, 2020.,Service connection for tinnitus is not granted.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and the claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fractured left fibula. The Veteran's low back disorder was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability, and his current compensable rating for residuals of a fractured left fibula is denied as there is no malunion of the fibula.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for new examinations to evaluate his low back, ankle, radiculopathy, neck, elbow, and upper extremity disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his right hip disability, specifically whether it is related to service-connected Perthes disease.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the conditions have not met criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left femur fracture, PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right knee strain, and left knee strain with limitation of flexion are granted. The Veteran's left foot injury is granted from September 23, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, degenerative arthritis of bilateral elbows, and gingivitis due to conflicting evidence and lack of clear diagnoses. The cases are now pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including back and right ankle conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, left ankle disability, and right heel disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the most recent examinations for the Veteran's right thumb and right knee disabilities are inadequate, and thus remanded to obtain new evaluations.