Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right knee tendonitis with meniscal tear and joint osteoarthritis, status-post meniscectomy, is rated at 20 percent for the entire rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been granted. The Veteran also received a TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations. The Veteran's conditions of fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and cervical myositis are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg nerve impingement syndrome and right hip osteoarthritis due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied an increased disability evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and remanded the issues of higher evaluations for right and left lower sciatica, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, and it remains in appellate status. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent due to painful motion with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral upper extremity neurological disabilities were not incurred in or related to his military service. The Board denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a surgical scar associated with the lumbar spine.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals before the Board, effectively dismissing both claims for service connection for glaucoma and right ankle foot osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral open angle glaucoma, bilateral cataracts, kidney disability, heart disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability. Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The appeal regarding increased ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as additional ratings for knee extension disabilities, are all granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all rated prior to April 28, 2021, but a TDIU is granted effective that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine and invertebral disc syndrome are remanded for a new examination to determine an appropriate disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations and need for a retroactive opinion.

The Veteran's entitlement to increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees and right ankle tendonitis is granted from June 3, 2017 to December 15, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, plantar fasciitis of the left and right feet, a lumbar spine disability, degenerative arthritis of the knees, were all denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and has ordered another remand for further development. Specifically, the Veteran is receiving separate ratings for left elbow limitation of flexion (under Code 5206) and osteoarthritis (under Codes 5206-5003), which are prohibited due to pyramiding under 38 C.F.R. § 4.14.