Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is related to service, including jumping out of helicopters while serving in combat in the Republic of Vietnam. The VA will provide a medical examination to determine if there is a relationship between the current disability and service.

Effective October 11, 1986, service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis is granted.,From May 11, 2007, an initial rating of 20 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain.,From May 11, 2007, an initial rating of 20 percent for right knee osteoarthritis is granted as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right knee impairment is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals to reopen the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a low back disorder, including sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, effective from November 8, 2016. The rating for chondromalacia and osteoarthritis remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches and back issues, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and possibly new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance based on the use of a right foot orthotic device was denied because there is no record of him using such an orthotic in 2020 or 2021.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a left hip disability, finding that it was caused by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the combined disability rating of 40 percent from March 29, 2012, through February 21, 2021, was properly calculated. The increase in rating for the right foot disability did not result in additional compensation from March 29, 2012, through February 21, 2021, and backpay is not warranted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective October 7, 2020.,Initial ratings of 20 percent are granted for the left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve involvement, also effective October 7, 2020.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right hand finger, osteoarthritis of the left foot, cholelithiasis, and right shoulder as they are not related to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there was no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD and dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional opinions regarding secondary service connection for left knee arthritis, as new theories of entitlement were presented in a recent appeal. The Veteran's representative noted that his back and right knee problems likely affected his left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him totally unable to obtain and sustain substantially gainful employment from August 16, 2019, to June 1, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and his low back condition and sleep apnea are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left shoulder condition is remanded for further development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and an addendum opinion to address whether any current left shoulder disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU from May 30, 2014, forward due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the combined effects of his back disability and other conditions prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected degenerative arthritis, with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, spinal stenosis, and intervertebral disc syndrome is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.