Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has decided the right ankle disability case and remanded for further development regarding the back disorder. The Veteran's appeal is pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder and arm conditions are related to his active service or secondary to a service-connected right shoulder condition. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to December 29, 2020, and 40 percent from that date forward.,The Board found the evidence insufficient to grant a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left wrist and shoulder conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for residuals of left index finger gunshot wound with retained shrapnel and degenerative arthritis has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder osteoarthritis and chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been remanded due to the submission of additional VA examination and clinical documentation. The case will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, leading the Board to grant his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective March 1, 2006. The increased evaluation for sciatic radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities was granted as well.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder has been reopened and granted. The issue of service connection for right leg deep vein thrombosis is remanded.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board will schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (includes labral tears) with degenerative and osteoarthritis, including from February 24, 2020.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, osteoarthritis of the right and left ankles, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

Effective August 26, 2020, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome was rated at 20 percent.,Effective August 26, 2020, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 20 percent.,Effective August 26, 2020, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was rated at 40 percent.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for various conditions as it lacks jurisdiction due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee disabilities, as the VA examinations conducted did not include both weight bearing and non-weight bearing range of motion assessments. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain these evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,These issues include evaluations for degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy.

The Board's decision partially vacated the February 9, 2021 decision to deny service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (previously claimed as a back disability). The case is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination in assessing his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right knee pain and headaches have been found to be related to service, resulting in the grant of service connection for these conditions.,Service connection has also been granted for a chronic disability manifested by shortness of breath, but the issue is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle tendonitis and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.