Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as right knee osteoarthritis with mild crepitus, medial and lateral meniscal tears, and residuals of anterior cruciate ligament tear. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.,The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and need for additional examinations. The issues include arthritis of the back, wrists, knees, colon condition, and skin cancer.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, including for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for right ankle fusion with degenerative osteoarthritis and joint disease prior to May 3, 2020 and thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (MDD), right knee strain and osteoarthritis, left knee strain and osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are based on direct evidence of a relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected chronic tonsilitis with pharyngitis.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his post-surgical conditions and instability, is currently rated at 30 percent. A temporary total rating for one year following the left total knee replacement has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis of the spine needs further evaluation.

The Veteran's right shoulder arthritis is granted service connection, while his left hip and right hip degenerative arthritis, neck condition, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and left shoulder condition are denied.

The Veteran's right shin splints and right knee osteoarthritis have been rated, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot and left foot osteoarthritis, finding that the conditions originated during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective July 18, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that his symptoms have been continuous since service and meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for scoliosis and degenerative arthritis of the spine, but denied service connection for residuals of surgical removal of a spinal cord tumor due to syringomyelia. The Board found that the Veteran's scoliosis is acquired rather than congenital, and that his symptoms of spine arthritis were chronic in service and continuous since separation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding service connection for a lower back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a sinus disability due to new evidence received after the last decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is now rated at 30 percent from October 5, 2017. His lumbar spine and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities continue to be rated as before.

The Veteran's right shoulder and right knee injuries are remanded due to incomplete service personnel records, which may contain information regarding the dates of his service in reserve.

The Veteran's right knee instability and limitation of flexion have been rated based on their current manifestations, but the RO has not addressed whether these conditions are due to service-connected disabilities or any other specific exposure. The case is remanded for further development.