Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ankle osteoarthritis, lumbar spine DJD with DDD, and right elbow injury were denied. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for a right knee disorder (arthritis) and right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hypertension is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, IVDS of the cervical spine with degenerative arthritis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations in excess of the current ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, as well as post-operative changes of the right knee, are being remanded due to a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evaluations and a need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain, knee arthritis, tinnitus, and various nerve entrapments, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities, as the previous examinations did not fully consider his statements regarding in-service injuries and ongoing pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and left knee strain are being remanded due to the need to obtain updated VA treatment records and any private medical records from her.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's lay statements about his in-service injury are credible and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity in the Veteran's work history and earnings, requiring further development to clarify these matters.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of severe limitation of motion.,For his right knee disability prior to October 1, 2018 (excluding a temporary total evaluation from August 28, 2017, to September 30, 2018), the Veteran's disability rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2018 and remains at that level. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on evidence of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, finding that it is not related to his service or secondary to his service-connected right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities. The VA will review the additional evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS is granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent from March 11, 2014 to February 3, 2020. For the entire appeal period, a higher disability rating than 40 percent for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis due to a lack of sufficient statement of reasons or bases in the August 2019 decision, and because further development is required. The case was previously adjudicated by the Board in an August 2019 decision which denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and muscle weakness.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, finding that his condition pre-existed military service and did not worsen during service. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of other foot disorders (plantar fasciitis, enthesopathy, neuroma, degenerative arthritis) present during the period of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis were not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement was denied. The TDIU claim prior to March 5, 2020 was also denied. However, from July 1, 2020 onwards, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's left shoulder internal derangement with degenerative arthritis was granted a 30% rating effective July 24, 2017. The earlier effective date for the right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy claims is being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with previous instructions regarding range of motion testing. The Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine condition is being reviewed.