Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and strain, sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and cellulitis have been granted service connection. Effective June 29, 2017, the Veteran has also received a 100 percent schedular rating for his major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle strain, left ankle arthritis, and service-connected plantar fasciitis with pes planus and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral feet. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected, with the Board resolving doubt in his favor.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to lack of evidence showing it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated medical opinions. The issues include seeking higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, obtaining earlier effective dates for certain awards of service connection, and determining whether a TDIU is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hip degenerative arthritis and her service, as well as its secondary or aggravated nature with her service-connected knee and back conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total disability rating for his back disability has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left foot condition is related to his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing clarifying addendum opinions from a VA examiner or telehealth interview.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis and associated complications contributed to his death from COPD or coronary artery disease. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather a request for clarification on the cause of death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and other issues. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, spine disabilities, and bilateral leg numbness are all being reviewed again.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and left hip, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood (equipoise) that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is already at its highest possible rating of 20 percent.,The Veteran's right knee disability has a current flexion to 70 degrees and extension to zero degrees, which does not warrant an increased rating beyond the currently assigned 10 percent.

Your service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and lumbar spine radiculopathy with bilateral sciatic nerve involvement have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as these issues are no longer in dispute.

The appeal is remanded for clarification of the Veteran's left knee disability ratings and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his meniscal involvement, instability, and deformity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hand numbness and tingling. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee instability and right knee instability were denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent prior to January 7, 2020. A separate evaluation of 20 percent for right knee dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain and effusion was granted.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was denied a rating in excess of the current 10 percent prior to January 7, 2020. The left knee osteoarthritis was denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent prior to January 7, 2020 and from January 7, 2020 up to May 31, 2014.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to May 31, 2014 was denied. The Veteran's right knee instability and left knee osteoarthritis were remanded for further development after January 7, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus entitling him to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC based on being housebound is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC by reason of aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and neck disability due to incomplete range of motion testing in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted. The appeal for PTSD is dismissed. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to provide adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and right leg disability, including whether they are related to service or secondary to his service-connected pes planus.