Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his current range of motion and functional limitations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), and left shoulder strain have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at the maximum 40 percent disability rating for his lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 29, 2013. Therefore, the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and left ear hearing loss due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee DJD and osteoarthritis are due to an injury during service, specifically ACDUTRA service in 1992. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury during combat.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tear as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability, finding that the right shoulder disability caused or aggravated the left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity neuropathy are granted service connection. The claim for sarcoidosis is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset and relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a rash of the groin area, diagnosed as inverse psoriasis. The issue of an initial compensable rating for a back disability prior to April 16, 2020, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter remains pending. Other issues remain remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right middle finger disability, finding that it began during his military service and continues to this day.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her right hip disability from February 22, 2017 to April 18, 2017 is denied as the evidence does not show flexion limited to 45 degrees or more.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of her right hip disability status post hip replacement is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records and a need for a new examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and clarification of his employability resulting from functional impairment associated with his service-connected disabilities, without regard to non-service-connected impairments.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine began in service or is related to an injury during service. The VA will need to obtain private treatment records and request an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's right hip disability, characterized by limitation of extension and flexion, is granted an initial 20 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability from September 1, 2018 onward was denied. The Board found that the current assigned rating of 30% adequately compensates him for his pain with limited motion and functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back problem (LBP) disability has increased in severity, and he is being asked to provide updated medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's hospitalization for alcohol dependency was not related to his service-connected right shoulder condition, and thus he is denied a temporary 100% evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hip disabilities are related to his service.