Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the right knee and lumbosacral strain as secondary to service-connected conditions, due to the effective dates of the granted benefits.

Service connection has been granted for a right Achilles tendon disorder and a right hip disorder.,The Veteran's right wrist, left shoulder, and right ankle disorders are pending further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted with effective dates of December 29, 2014.,These decisions are based on the Veteran filing her claims electronically in the VA eBenefits system prior to submitting a formal claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed. The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a back disability, right arm disability, radiculopathy (right lower extremity), and radiculopathy (left lower extremity).

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective from August 9, 2001. The VA has not obtained all relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records and the issues of increased rating for left shoulder dislocation with osteoarthritis, entitlement to TDIU, and service connection for a low back disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable, as he was able to maintain full-time employment in a substantially gainful occupation until August 14, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective opinion to determine when the Veteran's back disability increased in severity prior to February 7, 2017. The initial hearing loss rating remains denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected, and has remanded the left shoulder disability for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist and right knee disabilities, as well as a claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10% for left ankle arthritis. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's current conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's current degenerative arthritis and rotator cuff tendonitis of the left shoulder are due to an injury that occurred in service.,The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, was incurred during service and aggravated by his newly service-connected left shoulder disability. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder that is linked to his military service, and he also has a current diagnosis of migraine headaches that are linked to his military service.,The claim for a scar to the left shoulder and chest is remanded as records related to this incident have not been obtained.,The claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and migraine headaches are granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of osteoarthritis and hypertension for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between current symptoms and military service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which is rated as degenerative arthritis, has been granted a rating of 20 percent since January 22, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran experienced marked limitation in range of motion throughout the appellate period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right elbow and hand disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to June 1, 2008. However, as of June 1, 2008, his service-connected orthopedic disorders rendered him unable to do so.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to February 11, 2015 and since April 21, 2022. A higher rating of 40 percent is granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's left cubital tunnel syndrome is granted as service connected. The extension of the temporary total disability rating for left knee degenerative joint disease under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 until January 31, 2007, is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Dallas VAMC.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. A grant of TDIU is granted effective June 10, 2015.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis is denied.