Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and extension, but the Board denied a higher rating as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left hips, as well as a left knee disability, due to his service-connected right knee disability. The claims are being reviewed by VA examiners to determine if these conditions are secondary to or aggravated by his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that there is no currently diagnosed left foot or left heel disorder to which service connection may attach, and thus denied the claim for degenerative arthritis of the left foot. The heart disability issue was remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee conditions and polyarthritis due to undiagnosed illness. The case must be returned for further development, including an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, lumbar DDD, compression fracture, mild bulging post-surgical L5-S1 discectomy surgery with radiculopathy, unspecified depressive disorder, and migraines and tension headaches have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for lumbar radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board does not find any evidence supporting a higher rating.

Service connection is granted for left knee osteoarthritis status post total knee arthroplasty. Service connection is remanded for right knee osteoarthritis status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no basis for a higher rating due to noncompensable limitation of motion.,The Veteran's TBI with cognitive impairment was initially rated at 70 percent and later reduced to 40 percent effective October 1, 2015. The Board found that the reduction was proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for his service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side or midway between side and shoulder level.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected left finger disorder is denied. The Board has found that he is currently receiving the maximum available rating (10%) and there are no additional factors to warrant an increase in this case. Service connection for a left foot disorder remains pending.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that it did not more nearly approximate limitation of motion midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, based on limitation of motion. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back strain and degenerative arthritis has been reopened. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee surgical scar, left knee osteoarthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, post total right knee replacement, left knee instability, mild osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of updated medical records and need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, lumbar back disability with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and lower left extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.