Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as the July 2020 VA examiner improperly relied on the absence of medical records and assumed certain facts without clear explanation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased disability evaluations in various conditions, with some issues granted and others not. Service connection for a lung disorder was also established.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for adjudication, and additional evidence is needed. The Veteran's right knee disability and neurological condition remain under review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's appeal for additional development due to outstanding records and inadequate examination report.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety and depression (now claimed as PTSD), right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative arthritis and IVDS were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for degenerative changes and strain of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The claim for hypertension remains denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted based on new and material evidence. Chronic constipation secondary to service-connected hypertension is now service connected. Claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS, fibromyalgia, and MUCMI are all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its decision regarding TDIU, specifically addressing whether the Veteran is capable of sedentary work.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 100%, combined. He does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the 's' rate, and his TDIU claim is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent them from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 5, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his military service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion, as the flexion and extension were limited to 80 degrees during flare-ups. Service connection for tinnitus was granted due to new and material evidence being received.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right wrist disorders, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional examinations are needed to address these issues.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete information in the previous examinations. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for both knees are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and low back disability have been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis with tendonitis is not rated higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee, post-surgical patellar fracture with residual hardware and arthritis, is also not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney requesting withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of the right foot and ankle, finding that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by amputation below the knee with a suitable prosthetic appliance. The decision is based on evidence from VA treating podiatrists who assessed the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for service connection for blurry vision and has remanded the claims of service connection for chest pain, cervical spine injury pain, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and sprained 3rd digit of the right hand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and other service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his combined service-connected disabilities, which includes bilateral hearing loss (20%), tinnitus (10%), osteoarthritis of the left knee (10%), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with limited extension of right knee (10%), limited extension of left and right knees (10% each), and osteoarthritis of the left and right ankles (10%).