Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with a prior remand directive. The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is being reviewed again for service connection, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he has been employed as a commercial delivery truck driver for several years.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent prior to September 21, 2015 and 40 percent on and after that date. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he did not provide the required VA Form 21-8940, and there is no evidence showing that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right leg and knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the low back disability from August 2, 2011 to April 5, 2019. The Veteran's condition was characterized by painful limitation of motion and muscle spasms in the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's bilateral feet epidermophytosis and lumbar spine disability are both denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to the current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that he was not unemployable solely by reason of this disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, right hand, and left hand disorders due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's spouse is not found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to her disabilities, as she can manage most daily activities with assistance.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted with a separate 10 percent rating effective April 25, 2013.,A higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hand and leg disorders due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding potential undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to Southwest Asia service. The Veteran is also required to be examined for hip and foot disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for status post cervical discectomy with intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, migraines, and depression with anxiety as these conditions are related to a neck injury sustained during active duty training in April 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, lumbar spine disability, intervertebral osteochondrosis, C3-C4, C6-C7, bilateral hearing loss, parotid gland neoplasm, and peripheral neuropathy have been granted with effective dates of May 20, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has also been granted with an effective date of January 30, 2009.