Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to zero percent disabling, effective May 18, 2010, was proper. The appeal is denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to January 6, 2021, is granted.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions have significant impact on his ability to maintain employment and the evidence shows that he worked as a driver. The TDIU appeal for after January 6, 2021, is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture. The case is being remanded for further development regarding initial disability ratings for left knee instability and degenerative arthritis of the left knee with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is related to his service. The VA will need to obtain and review his medical records, schedule him for a VA examination, and attempt to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of left ankle and left knee disorders and service connection for a lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis were denied, while he was granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as secondary to the service-connected anxiety disorder. The lumbar spine and right hip disorders are denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms. Service connection for chronic hepatitis C is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacy of the November 2020 VA examination, which did not address the Veteran's contention that his right hip avascular necrosis is due to jet fuel exposure during service.

The Veteran's right knee strain with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was not enough evidence to show he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically addressing range of motion during flare-ups.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to February 20, 2021, and a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date onward, for lower back strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, when considered on use and during flare-ups, is productive of marked limitation of motion. The Board has granted an initial 20 percent schedular rating for the right ankle disability under the old criteria prior to February 7, 2021.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues, including service connection for hypertension and increased ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal disability and degenerative arthritis are rated at 10 percent each, while urticaria is not service-connected. The TDIU claim is granted prior to February 28, 2013.

The Board has determined that there is at least an equipoise of evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and his service injury, thus granting service connection for this condition. The claim for thoracolumbar spine disability was denied as there is no credible evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for valvular heart disease, as well as TDIU. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine osteoarthritis prior to October 8, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 7, 2006 for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show the award of service connection was based all or in part on newly added service treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for an initial 40 percent rating for sciatica of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity was granted, effective September 7, 2006.