Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as a right shoulder disability. The evidence shows these conditions began during the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 60 percent from December 10, 2013 to June 13, 2019.,After June 13, 2019, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including examinations and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder, left knee disability, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee condition, based on limited flexion. The remand is necessary due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right knee condition and the severity of his service-connected left knee conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disorders, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder osteoarthritis, foot fungus (onychomycosis), PTSD with depressive disorder, lumbar strain prior to June 30, 2016, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine have been denied as his disability has not met the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right hip disability is denied. The claims for service connection for asthma and inflammation to the ball of the right foot are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or material evidence to reopen his service connection claim.

The Veteran's bilateral breast calcification, claimed as fibrocystic breast disability, is granted service connection. The issues of hypertension, urinary hesitancy, ovarian cyst disability, TMJ disorder, and other disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and instability, was not found to warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension, arthritis of the fingers (also claimed as gout), and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain, and left inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and treatment records from Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital. The Veteran also needs an addendum opinion regarding his bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's right hand disability, which includes an old fracture of the fourth finger, a fifth finger sprain, and degenerative arthritis, has been rated as non-compensable. The Board has now granted a compensable rating of 10 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, mild neurocognitive disorder, sleep apnea with asthma, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, neck injury, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, rendered him unemployable for the period from September 8, 2018 to November 25, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is capable of sedentary work.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded his claims for left and right shoulder disabilities.