Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's initial rating for his right shoulder disability prior to December 23, 2019 was denied as the condition did not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, including potential VA treatment records and private treatment records from Mississippi Vision and Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knee conditions as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 50% for limitation of extension since January 9, 2021. The claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are not related to service, including herbicide exposure or an in-service lightning strike. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.,The Veteran's GERD is also not related to service, specifically his presumed herbicide exposure. The claim for this condition is remanded for further clarification.

Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine has been granted.,The issue of service connection for right shoulder disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals as he withdrew all his pending appeals through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 40 percent for his low back disability starting from October 23, 2020.,Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy effective July 19, 2016 and October 23, 2020 respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for mild degenerative changes of the left knee, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis is currently evaluated at 20 percent, effective July 14, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU related to his lumbosacral degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claim due to an inadequate examination and requests for updated treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU prior to July 16, 2010, were denied. The Board found that the assigned ratings under DCs 5010, 5257, and 5258 are appropriate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability rating for right knee osteoarthritis, resulting in its dismissal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to physical limitations.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected bilateral foot conditions and osteoarthritis. The Veteran's last date of employment was February 2012, and she is unable to work due to her service-connected disabilities.