Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service or events therein.,Service connection was denied for a cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during service.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of contradictory findings in a January 2021 VA Hip and Thigh examination, additional development related to private treatment records, and readjudication.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in its previous decision and the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to August 13, 2018.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including a meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate 20 percent rating for symptoms analogous to dislocated semilunar cartilage of the right knee with locking, pain, and effusion into the joint has been granted since March 1, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected total left knee replacement is remanded due to conflicting findings in the most recent VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying her claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorders other than plantar fasciitis, as well as any relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability (osteoarthritis) and a left wrist disability (osteoarthritis), both of which are considered secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (claimed as bilateral hip and thigh condition), and bilateral knee disability, all proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and scoliosis of the lumbar spine as secondary to a right knee condition. The rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee ACL and medial and lateral meniscus repair with DJD is still pending.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of left knee instability and TDIU due to inadequate examination and incomplete application for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are less than 60% combined and he does not have one disability rated at least 40%. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking the current right knee disorders to service or to his other disabilities.

Service connection for hypertension is granted as it is caused by the Veteran's service-connected unspecified sleep-wake disorder.,Service connection for headaches is granted as they are caused by the Veteran's service-connected unspecified sleep-wake disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a heart disability and TDIU were denied. The Board found the evidence against granting higher ratings for the knees due to limited flexion not meeting the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. Service connection for coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure was remanded. TDIU was also remanded.

The Veteran's back disability, characterized as lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and IVDS, was rated at 40 percent from February 11, 2013 to January 11, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician during this period.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities need to be re-evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left hip, which is secondary to osteoarthritis of the right hip, has been remanded due to an inextricably intertwined pending appeal.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a 50 percent rating from October 1, 2018 for status post total left shoulder replacement. He previously had a temporary 100 percent rating and then a 30 percent rating effective October 21, 2016.