Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10% and denied a higher rating. The right shoulder rotator cuff tear with tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint arthritis was previously rated at 20%, but the reduction to 30% has been found void ab initio. A higher rating for this condition after February 7, 2017 is also denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability remains at a 30% rating since February 7, 2017, and no higher rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examination reports.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was evaluated at a 20 percent rating, which adequately reflects his functional impairment and pain.

The Board has decided that more information is needed about the specific dates of service to determine if the Veteran's knee issues are related to his military service. The case will be sent back for further investigation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, including lumbosacral strain, bulging discs, and degenerative arthritis, is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active duty or are otherwise linked to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that his current osteoarthritis is not related to an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's current low back and right hip disorders are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and military service. The skin disorder may be related to service due to potential pre-existing conditions exacerbated by service.,PTSD was diagnosed based on childhood trauma, but its relationship to service needs clarification.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion was previously rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that her current range of motion does not warrant a higher rating due to lack of evidence showing lost range of motion limited to 10 degrees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, back condition, and neck condition as secondary to epilepsy. The VA examinations did not provide adequate detail in their nexus opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection issues were addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective March 5, 2010. The right knee osteoarthritis with a diffusely macerated meniscus and cartilage loss is now rated at 20 percent, also effective March 5, 2010.,The Veteran's right knee instability remains rated at 10 percent.

The case is being remanded due to insufficient examination in the previous rating decision, specifically regarding retrospective estimate opinions about limitation of motion at the time of the 2013 and 2015 VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds a remand is required to obtain updated information about his most recent employment and to request an opinion regarding the combined effects of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his low back injury with degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to a lack of compliance with the Board's previous remand instructions. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability had its onset during active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to insufficient etiology opinions provided by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle and bilateral knee osteoarthritis, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU claim as the evidence does not support that any of the service-connected disabilities alone or in combination prevented him from obtaining employment.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings of his psychiatric and right knee disabilities, as well as claims for service connection for left knee and right toe disabilities, have been dismissed. The Veteran's GERD has been granted a 60% disability rating.