Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was denied.,Effective dates were granted for a 10% rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE) and left lower extremity (LLE), both effective January 28, 2014.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed lumbar degenerative arthritis is related to service, specifically addressing his reported injury during boot camp and in-service duties.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is rated at 20% from June 9, 2010 to December 20, 2017. From October 19, 2020, the rating is increased to 30%. A separate 20% rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage was granted starting August 7, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for atrial fibrillation, stasis dermatitis, and bilateral degenerative arthritis of the feet as there was no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), nor did any medical opinion support a connection to the Veteran's March 1977 motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his bilateral foot, wrist, and hand disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability, finding that additional development is needed to address the nature and etiology of his left foot disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a right elbow condition is granted. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and right elbow degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and treatment records. The Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, and eye condition are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and increased rating for osteoarthritis, right knee are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection for a back condition is denied as less likely related to military service.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal and ACL tear, post-operative repair, is granted a disability rating of 20 percent. His right knee degenerative arthritis continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, is granted on the merits.,The left knee disability manifested by pain is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability (patellofemoral pain syndrome).,Bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service.

The Board has granted service connection for aggravation of the low back arthritis by the service-connected left hip disability. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and his residuals of a gunshot wound of the left hip are rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for development due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an incomplete examination report. The Veteran's service-connected back disability is being evaluated, and his TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for his lumbar spine and sciatic nerve disabilities were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War Syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hereditary multiple exostoses/osteochondromatosis clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The current degenerative arthritis is attributed to the pre-existing condition.

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 inadequate examination reports regarding flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran needs a VA examination to address whether his diagnosed disabilities are related to active service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to April 8, 2003, and for the period of May 8, 2003, to May 24, 2004, for service-connected cervical spine disability is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent as of May 25, 2004, for a cervical spine disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 25, 2004, but no earlier than September 24, 2002, for an extraschedular TDIU is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 25, 2004, but no earlier than September 24, 2002, for the award of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including other trauma and stressor related disorder, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, dermatitis of the neck, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since September 17, 2016. The Veteran's combined service-connected rating was 80 percent at that time. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is established as of September 17, 2016.