Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability have been rated at 10 percent since August 26, 2011. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left carpal tunnel syndromes are granted with increased evaluations, while the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is also granted but only effective from October 23, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequacies in a previous VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back condition. The examiner did not provide adequate rationale and failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements about his continuous pain and treatment history.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis with complete medial meniscal posterior horn and body degeneration are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and staphylococcus pharyngitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection are now pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from October 1, 2006, through October 28, 2009, and in excess of 20 percent since October 29, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's cervical spine disability, as the current rating criteria have changed. The issue of a higher rating for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain remains under review.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis was denied. Prior to December 7, 2020, the rating remained at 10 percent due to insufficient range of motion and lack of ankylosis or IVDS. From December 7, 2020, a 40 percent rating was granted but the claim for higher ratings remains denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hand disorder and left hand disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions.,Service connection was also not granted for a throat disorder due to lack of sufficient medical opinion regarding its relation to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee conditions are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 1, 2015. Therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar degenerative arthritis was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support the assertion that his current degenerative arthritis began during or within one year after his active duty service. The Board also found that any in-service injury did not cause his current condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee should be remanded for further evaluation and a new medical opinion to determine if it is aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis with residuals, compression fracture T10 and L2. The claims for service connection of cervical spine disability, headaches, right hip disability, left hip disability, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right ankle calcaneal spur with degenerative arthritis was granted, and he is now receiving a 30 percent disability rating effective December 23, 2020.,A separate compensable evaluation of 10 percent for the painful right ankle scar was also granted effective December 23, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of a greater than 10 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Veteran's IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the spine and ankylosing spondylitis was granted a 40 percent rating for the period prior to October 1, 2020. A higher rating is denied at all times relevant to the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.