Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, lumbar strain, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, right knee limitation of extension, left knee limitation of extension, and right hip strain. The combined effect of these conditions has rendered the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 2, 2008.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including arthritis, was not incurred or aggravated by service and is unrelated to any event in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis prior to December 11, 2014 was not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited flexion.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and his TDIU claim is granted. The Board found that he cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip disabilities, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and trochanter bursitis, finding that these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The appeal regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected low back condition, characterized as degenerative arthritis L4-L5 and L5-S1 with a paracentral disc protrusion or herniation displacing the right S1 nerve root, is now rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to limitations in range of motion.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for arthritis of the neck, bilateral hands, and lumbar spine due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain missing VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's hearing loss, low back disability, and left shoulder strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence of the current severity of his right foot and ankle disabilities, including any residuals. The Veteran also has a TDIU claim that needs further development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine the etiology of his current knee conditions, which may be related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of January 1, 2014 for various disabilities including bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral calcaneal enthesopathy, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with arthritis, left elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, right elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The effective dates were granted based on the Veteran's original claim filed in July 2013.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left hip, associated with lumbar fusion L1, DDD and DJD, limitation of extension, and limitation of flexion have been denied. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service and that the current diagnosis is not causally related to service.

The Veteran's claims of increased evaluation for degenerative arthritis, compensation for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for PTSD and traumatic brain injury are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's right knee, hip and lumbar spine disorders are granted as secondary to his service-connected right foot injury.,An increased rating of 20 percent for the Veteran’s right foot disorder is granted.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, but the appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to an in-service fall/injury and grants service connection for this condition.