Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU effective November 16, 2020. The appeal is remanded for consideration of TDIU prior to this date.

The Veteran's knee disabilities were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating from September 3, 2014 to April 10, 2019.,A separate 10% disability rating for painful extension of the right knee is granted effective February 5, 2015.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal issues, as well as psychiatric disorders. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected chronic left quadriceps strain.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's right knee disability, including considering revised rating criteria and obtaining updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating for the right knee limitation of flexion effective December 15, 2021.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran's current diagnosis and in-service noise exposure raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right foot and ankle disabilities have been granted a 30 percent disability rating from March 11, 2015, to January 30, 2019, and from May 1, 2019. The higher ratings for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding right knee instability. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is now pending.

The Board dismissed the appeals for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for esophagitis with Barrett's esophagus and hiatal hernia, service connection for diverticulitis, generalized arthritis, bilateral upper extremities CTS, and service connection for left Achilles tendon condition. Service connection was granted for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with dextroscoliosis and residuals of a left Achilles tendon rupture.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left knee meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis with instability during the period prior to February 24, 2009 is granted. For the period after February 24, 2009, a higher rating of more than 20 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with facet arthropathy and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis and Baker's cyst is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate rating of 20 percent for instability from May 9, 2014 to January 31, 2017 was granted, while a rating of 30 percent on and after February 1, 2017 was also granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a medial meniscal tear, was granted ratings for limitation of flexion, extension, and instability from March 26, 2012, to March 23, 2016. A TDIU rating was also granted during this period.

The Board has granted service connection for congenital scoliosis with kyphosis thoracic, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury. Service connection was denied for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability during service or continuity of symptomatology.

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

The Veteran's appeal of service connection and increased rating claims for various hand, knee, ankle, and tinnitus conditions is being remanded due to procedural issues under the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion and a noncompensable evaluation for right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension.