Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate evaluations of his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.,Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (IVDS, spinal stenosis), lumbosacral radiculitis of the left and right lower extremities, all secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for consideration of additional VA treatment records and a January 2021 VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS was rated at 10 percent prior to February 8, 2016. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's increased rating claims for his lumbosacral strain spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis prior to October 2, 2012. The appeal was also dismissed regarding his claims for higher ratings from April 16, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as well as preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot osteoarthritis, right foot osteoarthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on moderate symptoms of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and bilateral leg condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability and MDD/GAD secondary to his service-connected disabilities is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries, with continuity of symptoms since discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or etiological relationship between the Veteran's active service and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee instability and for a determination on his TDIU claim, which is inextricably intertwined with the left knee issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 1, 2017 due to her employment as a certified nurse assistant with VA. The Veteran worked until September 2017 and stopped working because she was no longer able to perform the physical and mental requirements of gainful activity.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the entire period on appeal, as he meets the schedular criteria and his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for right knee meniscal tear status post meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis, and whether obesity was caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective May 25, 2021. The Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective May 25, 2021.,The Veteran's left and right knee instability are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has restored a 20% disability rating for service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy effective December 11, 2018. The remaining claims are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to her active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left total knee replacement as a residual of meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support aggravation of her pre-existing condition during periods of active duty training.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee arthritis, diabetes with kidney disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and stroke have all been granted due to evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.,Service connection is also granted on a presumptive basis for diabetes with kidney disease as it is associated with exposure to herbicide agents.