Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected right thumb degenerative arthritis and tendonitis, effective from October 1, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities because he did not complete and submit the necessary application form, and there was no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues related to left knee instability, left knee degenerative arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. He is satisfied with the current ratings assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, headaches, and degenerative arthritis of the spine. Service connection was denied for right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his back disability and associated lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions, including IVDS.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, and to include as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service, and concluded that the current cervical spine disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded for additional development to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition has not been manifested by forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, and therefore a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including spondylolysis, degenerative arthritis, and disc herniation. Service connection was also granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the low back disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.,Loss of use of the right foot has not been demonstrated.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and incomplete information. The Veteran's claims of higher disability ratings for his service-connected conditions are now pending.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective September 14, 2017. Effective dates for separate compensable ratings for radiculopathy of the right internal saphenous nerve, obturator nerve, external cutaneous nerve, and ilio-inguinal nerve are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to a lack of adequate discussion regarding flare-ups during the VA examination.

The Veteran's back condition, Parkinson’s disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and eye condition are all granted service connection. However, the VA has not provided sufficient evidence to determine if his neck and knee conditions are related to service.

The RO has restored the Veteran's 40% disability rating for service-connected lumbar degenerative joint disease with lumbar disc herniation, effective May 1, 2020. The issues of increased ratings and earlier effective dates remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right ankle and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from orthopedists who have treated him. The TDIU claim is also being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back strain is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's right and left knee arthritis were rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent, with no evidence of additional limitation or disability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine osteoarthritis due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding pre-existing spinal canal stenosis.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis in upper extremities, and osteoarthritis in lower extremities due to the death of the appellant.