Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disorder, residuals of prostate cancer (due to exposure to herbicide agents), and erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer. The reasons are that further development is needed to obtain potentially relevant outstanding service personnel records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability prior to October 7, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of TDIU prior to this date and grants the claim.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limited forward flexion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, was shown to be present within one year of his separation from service. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disorder, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximate motion limited to 25 degrees from the side or less during flares.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and multiple neuropathies, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, eye disabilities, and gastrointestinal disorders. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and non-VA treatment records, arranging for orthopedic examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right wrist disabilities, and resolving discrepancies in previous examination findings.

The Veteran's spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), is rated at 40 percent effective June 13, 2014. The right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy is granted a higher rating of 20 percent since December 14, 2016. The left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is also granted a higher rating of 20 percent effective December 14, 2016. Effective March 26, 2015, the Veteran's TDIU and basic eligibility for DEA benefits are granted.

The claim for service connection for right knee postoperative torn meniscus with osteoarthritis is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The Veteran's back disability, left ear hearing loss, and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Veteran's inactive tuberculosis is granted as service-connected, with the condition resolving during active duty.,Service connection for low back disorder and neck disorder are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and bilateral knee conditions, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and shoulder disabilities are granted as service-connected. The disabilities were found to be at least as likely as not incurred or caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis prior to January 17, 2020 and from that date was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for the period since January 17, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with his lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease, status-post myocardial infarction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from April 8, 2014 to May 29, 2018. The Board has granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and right knee have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn them.