Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective November 8, 2011. From December 20, 2019, the rating for his back disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Effective December 21, 2020, he received ratings of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but he did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as he had less than a ten-year total disability rating at the time of his death.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is now rated at 40 percent, effective from September 14, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for adjudicatory purposes and the need to secure outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and severity of the Veteran's shoulder and foot disabilities. Separate ratings may be warranted for multiple service-connected foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to his service, and also because of concerns about a pelvic tilt problem and unequal leg length that may be separate from his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis and recurrent lateral instability are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection and TDIU issues. The right ankle disability has been granted a 20% rating, but the other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome have been granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective from December 19, 2021. The issue of total disability due to individual unemployability prior to October 10, 2017 remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 23, 2016. Further development is needed due to the Veteran's assertions of worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his contentions of in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right great toe cold injuries, left knee strain, right knee tendonitis, and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their onset during service or causation.

The Board has remanded both the service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence in the VA medical opinions. The Veteran's back disability is suspected to have pre-existed service, but a new examination is needed to clarify this issue. For his diabetes claim, a VA examination is required to determine if it had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right leg joint condition, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea. The issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been rated based on their service-connected nature.,A TDIU is being remanded due to the complexity of the case.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee strain and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, as well as for left knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking his conditions to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis and sleep apnea. The claim for an undiagnosed illness is remanded.,Service connection for the Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis and sleep apnea is established.

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