Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and sleep apnea have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to lack of a causal relationship established by VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine disability prior to August 30, 2021 and thereafter, and a compensable disability rating for chronic headaches prior to August 30, 2021 and an increased rating thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection due to lack of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, acromioclavicular joint ostearthritis, and dislocation had its onset during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty and are related to his in-service diagnosis of chondromalacia patella.

The Veteran's service connection claims for DJD of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the left knee have been granted. The Board has also remanded for further examination to determine if the Veteran's neck, upper leg/hip, and headache conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine and right ankle degenerative arthritis, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 7, 2019. The appeals are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome (limitation of flexion) and extension were denied as the conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 30 percent from May 6, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period during the appeal.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to TDIU as of April 11, 2017 and from August 1, 2015 to April 10, 2017. The claim for TDIU prior to August 1, 2015 is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss, PTSD, foot disorders, IVDS, radiculopathy, and shoulder degenerative arthritis. The appellant is seeking an extension of time to respond due to delays in receiving notification letters from VA.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including strain, degenerative arthritis, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, restrictive ventilatory defect, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for sinus disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and knee disabilities. The Board also directed further VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and foot conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent since December 23, 2019. The earlier effective date of May 1, 2015 for the 30 percent rating assigned for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been granted.,The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are each currently rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began on May 1, 2015. The initial ratings in excess of these percentages have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis was granted, with a disability rating of 30 percent.,Service connection claims for bilateral wrist condition, bilateral hip condition, and bilateral ankle condition were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand osteoarthritis, right hand osteoarthritis, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is not rated higher than 70 percent. From June 1, 2014 to December 3, 2019, the Veteran's DDD with spondylosis of the lumbar spine was granted a 20 percent rating. The Veteran's meniscal and ACL tears status post-surgery with degenerative arthritis of the right knee were granted a 20 percent rating from June 14, 2019. The Veteran's trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip was granted a 20 percent rating starting from June 19, 2017.