Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between the current condition and active duty.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased ratings for left and right knee conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, right ankle instability, and left ankle disabilities. The low back, right shoulder, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder, and he is granted a separate rating for instability of the left knee. He also receives an increased rating for his left knee degenerative arthritis and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine and right hip conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's back DDD is rated at 20 percent, and his left hip osteoarthritis with limited flexion is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are denied for increased ratings.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in limitation of motion to less than 30 degrees or ankylosis. His left hip osteoarthritis with limited flexion also did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his flexion is not limited to less than 20 degrees.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral radiculopathy disabilities are granted with effective dates of March 1, 2013. The claim for a higher rating for his lower back condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeals regarding various conditions and ratings have been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.,No new evidence has been received to reopen a claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with metatarsalgia, finding that it was caused by his active duty.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS and gynecomastia, status post bilateral simple mastectomy, are both granted. The Veteran is assigned a 50 percent initial disability rating for his gynecomastia condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development and clarification of his conditions, exposure basis, service connection theory, and rating assigned. The claims include a request for an increased evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, as well as requests for service connection for bilateral hip degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorders and psychiatric conditions due to potential issues with service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left wrist range of motion during flare-ups and potential ankylosis.

The Veteran's right ankle osteoarthritis is rated at 20 percent from March 28, 2013 to August 14, 2014 and from October 1, 2014 to January 12, 2016. A rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle osteoarthritis on or after March 1, 2017 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability and for TDIU prior to September 16, 2012. The remand is due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of functional impairment.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder, degenerative arthritis of the spine, GERD and hiatal hernia, and migraine headaches require further evaluation due to lack of recent VA examinations.,Additional medical evidence may be needed for a proper assessment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis have been granted. The Board found that the current bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle arthralgia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and skin disability of the plantar surface of the right foot due to new evidence received since previous final decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to his failure to authorize VA to obtain private treatment records. The issues include left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, lumbar spine, and right thumb disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective August 6, 2013. The appeal involves a higher initial rating for this condition.