Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right joint osteoarthritis with effusion, was incurred during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The original grants were based on evidence showing a link between current symptoms and service-connected conditions.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudicating the claims for service connection for a left hip disorder, insomnia, and depression. The Veteran's current diagnoses of left hip osteoarthritis and insomnia have been established, but there is no in-service injury or event related to these conditions, nor are they shown to be continuous since service separation. Service connection cannot be granted as the evidence does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim that the August 6, 2014 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The correct combined rating of 40 percent for service-connected osteoarthritis, right knee was calculated based on VA regulations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable rating for scars of the forehead and right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis with rotator cuff tendonitis status post shoulder strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected right knee total knee replacement, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left ankle condition was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, effective dates for benefits, and TDIU. The main reasons are that VA treatment records related to the Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities and degenerative arthritis of the spine have not been properly associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to no more than 60 degrees or incapacitating episodes during the period on appeal.

Service connection is granted for chronic left knee pain. Service connection is denied for right knee disability, to include osteoarthritis.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and heart disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 1, 2009 for PTSD and March 31, 1995 for Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, low back disabilities (including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy), right knee DJD, and left knee DJD. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding kidney stones.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition is aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability and Bell's palsy were granted, while the application to reopen a claim of service connection for Bell's palsy was remanded. The Board found new and material evidence related to her right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not begin during service, was not shown to have manifested within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to his military service. The most probative evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection for his current right knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, bronchitis (due to herbicide exposure), and bilateral arm skin disorder (due to herbicide exposure) as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy are currently rated based on their underlying conditions, but a remand is required to determine if the Veteran's functional limitations due to flare-ups or repetitive use warrant separate ratings for each nerve involved.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his knee and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, gout, a left shoulder disability, and a heart disability (claimed as triple bypass-heart with defibrillator/pacemaker) have been dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

A rating higher than 60 percent for gout of the bilateral great toes prior to September 19, 2016 is denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the bilateral great toes is granted.,A 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis and residuals of a fracture of the lateral malleolus of the right ankle (right ankle arthritis) as of July 14, 2017, but no earlier, is granted.,A separate 20 percent rating for gout of the right ankle is granted.