Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA is instructed to schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and their impact on employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that it is related to his in-service injury and continuous symptoms since then.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of all listed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's left knee conditions, including anterior cruciate ligament tear and degenerative arthritis, are rated at 10 percent since January 16, 2020. The rating is for limitation of motion in the flexion of the knee.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further consideration regarding hypertension.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left tibia with synovitis and osteoarthritis, finding that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

Service connection for low back disorder (degenerative arthritis of the spine) is granted.,Service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, low back condition, right ankle condition, and right hip condition as secondary to his service-connected right medial meniscus tear due to insufficient opinions regarding aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion from a previous VA examiner, and now requires an addendum medical examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is causally related to her service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disabilities as well as a right leg disability, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions in service or until many years after separation. The evidence does not support a link between any current hip or knee issues and military service.

The Veteran's sleep disorder and left knee disability are remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting opinions on their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of corneal ulcer with infiltrate, left eye has been reopened. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation and rating of his other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and spondylolisthesis is granted. The claim for a skin disability, including soft-tissue sarcoma, actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and benign skin neoplasms, is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied a temporary total rating for surgery associated with service-connected degenerative arthritis of the hands due to prior surgeries unrelated to the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, including in his past work as a machine operator and receiving dock clerk. The Board grants the TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected scoliosis and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for scoliosis prior to October 1, 2019, or a rating in excess of 20 percent for his degenerative arthritis and IVDS from October 1, 2019.,The VA examinations showed limited range of motion for the Veteran's spine. The examiner noted that pain significantly limited function during flare-ups.

The Veteran's lung disability, diagnosed as benign pulmonary nodules, was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to active duty service, to include as due to presumed in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran’s arthritis disability, diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to active duty service, to include as due to presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has found service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine. The claims for right hip, left hip, and left shoulder conditions are remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.