Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities or if they were caused by his back surgery.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and left and right knees have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability has been denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety. The left ear hearing loss claim is denied, and the right foot, left foot, right knee, and TDIU issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are being remanded because additional evidence is needed, including VA treatment records and a new examination.

The appeals for pension benefits and service connection for right knee injury/osteoarthritis have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and for service connection for vertigo, to include as secondary to peripheral vestibular disorder due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is service-connected, as it had its onset during his period of active service and is related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted TDIU after July 10, 2014 due to her service-connected disabilities, but not prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for higher disability ratings for his lumbar spine condition is remanded due to insufficient compliance with the Board's previous remand directives and need for additional medical opinions regarding flare-ups and radiculopathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that her symptoms did not warrant such an increase.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period from February 21, 2019 to November 7, 2019 and from November 19, 2020. SMC was also granted effective November 7, 2019.,Prior to February 21, 2019, the Veteran's combined disability rating did not meet the requirements for a schedular TDIU rating. However, due to his employment status and service-connected disabilities affecting his ability to work, an extraschedular TDIU was granted.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and hypertension due to insufficient evidence or lack of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 21, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and osteoarthritis with meniscal tear and strain were denied. The rating for right knee instability was not granted as the condition did not cause moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. For right knee osteoarthritis, the limitation of extension prior to August 17, 2020 was not met, while from that date onwards it was also not met.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis with sclerosis of the right SI joint is presumed to be related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), a lower back condition, right and left knee conditions, right foot frostbite, left foot frostbite, right hand frostbite, left hand frostbite, tinea versicolor with tinea pedis, and status-post fracture of the left fourth finger with osteoarthritis. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings on multiple knee and back conditions, as well as his claim for nonservice-connected disability pension.