Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has jurisdiction over the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The reduction of the Veteran's back rating is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for sacroiliac joint separation and pelvic fracture, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 7, 2017. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and reasoning in previous decisions. The Veteran's left knee condition, including osteoarthritis, is now subject to further review with consideration of his lay statements regarding service-related aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The effective date of July 15, 1986, has been granted for his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The appeal is limited to the initial compensable rating for status post recurrent heat exhaustion, which was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI residuals are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,Prior to February 9, 2017, the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, as well as his left knee meniscal tear (prior to September 1, 2019), were granted separate disability ratings. The Veteran's right knee replacement surgery resulted in a 60% rating beginning September 1, 2019. His bilateral plantar fasciitis and foot disabilities were denied initial higher ratings.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and tension headaches associated with the cervical spine disability were denied service connection.,Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder due to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, including lumbar degenerative arthritis, lumbar disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and lumbar radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence of such disorders during service or related to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent since March 19, 2021. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date and for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy issues remains pending.

The Veteran's right foot disability, which includes a bunionectomy and arthritis of the great toe, was previously rated at 10 percent. The Board has restored the original 30 percent rating effective March 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for a compensable disability rating for hypertension and reopening of the lumbar spine disability claim have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted. The claim for service connection for depression is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent before March 23, 2017. From March 23, 2017 to December 15, 2019, a rating of 40 percent was granted. After that date, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis and whether it is secondary to his service-connected left foot condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis and a separate rating for left knee instability was denied. The Veteran currently receives a 10 percent disability rating for her left knee degenerative arthritis, but no higher.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA records and scheduling a new examination. The issues of reducing ratings and entitlement to higher ratings are also being considered.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to March 28, 2018 due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.