Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and remands the case for readjudication.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and MDD has been granted, but the claim is dismissed as moot due to the effective date being January 9, 2012.,Service connection for hypertension was also granted with a zero percent evaluation, which is now dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hip arthritis with hip joint replacement and left hip trochanteric, bursitis, degenerative arthritis, and prosthetic left hip joint, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hand disability is denied as it did not manifest in service and is not otherwise attributable to service.,The Veteran's residuals of shingles are granted as they are related to active service.

The Board denied the request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability because no new and material evidence was submitted that would establish a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent for the period prior to January 25, 2022 and denied for a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including traumatic shoulder dislocation and osteoarthritis, is rated at 30 percent since July 20, 2015. The decision grants a rating of 30 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tear and degenerative arthritis, finding no evidence of such condition during or proximate to active service. The Veteran's claim was also remanded for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a separate 20 percent rating for dislocated cartilage from July 14, 2019, through December 10, 2020. The rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the ring and little finger of her right hand was denied as there is no evidence of amputation or ankylosis, and the maximum noncompensable rating based on limitation of motion has already been assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities have precluded him from securing and maintaining a gainful employment as of April 21, 2014. The Board has remanded the increased rating claim for right shoulder recurrent dislocation with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left hip degenerative arthritis and denied compensable ratings for left hip limitation of flexion and abduction/rotation.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tendinitis are rated at 30 percent from October 18, 1990 to July 14, 2021.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and instability, is rated at 20 percent. A separate rating of 10 percent for slight right knee instability from September 3, 2015 to September 8, 2016 is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a higher rating for his service-connected left foot disability and bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU were also remanded.,The Veteran's left foot disability was rated as moderately severe throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with lumbar spasm and IVDS is rated at 40 percent prior to June 5, 2014, and the Board has remanded this issue for further development.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica is rated at 10 percent. The Board has also remanded this issue for further development.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica prior to June 5, 2014 and bladder impairment associated with lumbosacral degenerative arthritis are both remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability, including IVDS, was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's right knee strain was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's neurological impairment of the left lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's neurological impairment of the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's neurogenic bladder disability was rated at 40 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and the reduction to noncompensable is denied.,The Veteran's plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and the reduction to noncompensable is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for left shoulder internal derangement and left ankle degenerative arthritis are remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.,Service connection for right hip disability and left hip disability are remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and dismissed the claims for lumbosacral strain and asthma.