Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings and the need for further evidence, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused and aggravated his cervical spine disabilities, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mechanical low back pain, knee conditions, and radiculopathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as his back condition was noted in service and he has complained of symptoms since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, left and right radiculopathy, dorsal spine compression fraction, right shoulder tendonitis with impingement and osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to issues with his right knee disability. The Veteran is seeking higher evaluations for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome, meniscal tear, ACL tear, and degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Veteran received a 40 percent rating from November 27, 2013 to January 13, 2019.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis with limited extension and flexion is rated at 20% and 10%, respectively, but the Board finds that these ratings are not higher than what is warranted based on the evidence.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for lumbar sacroiliitis and degenerative arthritis was granted, but a separate 10 percent disability rating is granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from October 9, 2013. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, various knee conditions, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to January 20, 2021 and 10 percent beginning May 1, 2021. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity with sciatica is currently rated at 10 percent while her left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's mid-back disability previously claimed as left shoulder pain did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent, and tinea versicolor is rated at 30 percent. Both conditions are denied for higher ratings.

The Veteran's right hip avascular necrosis with osteoarthritis and left hip avascular necrosis with osteoarthritis were granted a disability rating of 90 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis prior to January 29, 2020 and since that date have been denied. The medical evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, finding that his functional impairment more nearly approximates limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder level.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis. The rating assigned is 30 percent, effective August 27, 2013. The claim for an initial compensable rating for tinea pedis was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her service-connected left pelvic, right foot, and right knee disabilities were denied by the Board. The appeals were remanded multiple times due to issues with VA examinations and compliance with previous directives.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and hip replacement, as well as right hip osteoarthritis and hip replacement, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and left wrist disorders due to insufficient development and lack of medical opinions addressing his service connection claims. The VA is required to obtain additional evidence, schedule examinations, and provide clarifying medical opinions.

The Board denied the claim to reopen service connection for migratory polyarthritis or Reiter's syndrome, as well as secondary service connection for various conditions and TDIU. The evidence did not show that these conditions had onset during a qualifying period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).