Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent effective February 23, 2018. The remaining issues of initial ratings for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disorder, back disorder, skin disorder, kidney disorder, abdominal aneurysm, glaucoma, and right eye disorder are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including for service connection claims related to bilateral foot conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, pseudofolliculitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and previous ACL reconstruction with meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent for instability from March 8, 2016 to March 22, 2022. The rating has been granted based on the current functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, initial ratings for left knee conditions, and a TDIU prior to August 13, 2002. The issues are being remanded due to requests from the Veteran's attorney for examiner CVs and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a left knee condition due to the need for an opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and rating of recurrent episodes of urethritis. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed to address new evidence and clarify medical opinions.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals for sinusitis and PTSD, and has remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right hip DJD.

The Veteran's right knee and right hip osteoarthritis have been granted service connection, with a rating of 10% effective July 20, 2018. Service connection for aggravation of diabetes mellitus type 2 has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her back disorder with osteoporosis, bilateral hip pain with osteoporosis, and bilateral thigh impairment with osteoporosis have been denied. The current rating of 40 percent for the back disorder is maintained.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a 20 percent rating, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder) is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for nephrolithiasis remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be obtained before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee and shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for gastric ulcer and diabetes mellitus type II.,The Board found that there was no ankylosis or instability in the Veteran's left ankle, which precluded a higher rating. The case is now remanded to provide addendum opinions addressing whether any current gastrointestinal disorder and/or diabetes mellitus were proximately caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine condition has been dismissed as he expressed satisfaction with the June 2022 decision and requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain adequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current right hip disorders are related to his service-connected back disorder and if they are aggravated by it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 20, 2021. However, he was employed as a forklift operator in a protected environment until July 20, 2021.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and other knee impairment are currently rated at the lowest possible levels, with no higher ratings due to lack of additional functional loss or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims of rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as ratings for left and right knee instability. The remand is due to incomplete examinations that did not address how pain with weight-bearing could affect range of motion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of his disabilities.