Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability due to incomplete development and need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and pain, but has remanded the issue due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination report.

The Board has dismissed all claims for increased ratings and TDIU as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the issues of higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, status-post total left knee replacement, and right knee, as well as a TDIU prior to March 24, 2017. The remand is due to incomplete opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups at relevant VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee joint osteoarthritis due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for low back and neck disabilities, but denied an earlier effective date for TMJD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his service-connected disabilities in determining whether he is unemployable.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted as secondary to service-connected dorsolumbar strain. The thoracolumbar strain disability, already service connected, is also granted. Service connection for migraine headaches is granted based on their relationship to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability due to insufficient information in the most recent VA examination report, particularly regarding the point at which pain causes loss of motion and the extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's right knee, right leg and low back disorders are now service connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's right hip disorder is also granted as it is related to his other service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right acromioclavicular joint separation residuals with degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and left hip disability are remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, are granted service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted with a 20% rating from December 20, 2012 to December 11, 2018. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an initial rating greater than 30%. There was no reopening of service connection due to new evidence.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis has been granted service connection. The Board also remanded the claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip replacement, and right hip replacement due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as presumptively related to his service in Southwest Asia. The right knee osteoarthritis claim was denied, but the Veteran received a 50% disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorders starting October 1, 2019 and TDIU from December 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied in a previous decision. New evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim, and the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted an extension of a temporary 100 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee disability through August 31, 2017. The case is remanded for further development regarding increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records, SSA records, and retrospective opinions regarding his back condition.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for a right knee disability is denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, which is considered to have been incurred during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).