Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right knee osteoarthritis with painful motion was denied. Effective May 5, 2018, the Veteran received a 10 percent disability rating for right knee instability under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and low back disability render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as right and left arm disabilities, all of which are deemed to be directly related to in-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, including degenerative arthritis. The evidence did not show that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU. The Board has remanded these matters for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, finding no direct or secondary link to his military service. The decision also noted that there was not enough evidence to presume the condition was incurred during service.

The claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, including osteoarthritis, status post bilateral total hip replacements, is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of head injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depressive disorder unspecified, polysubstance dependence in partial remission and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine due to lack of evidence supporting the presence or continuity of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty and TDIU claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of opinions regarding his cervical degenerative arthritis. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Board also denied service connection for bilateral foot disabilities as they were not shown to be related to or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete testing and lack of specific opinions regarding functional loss, flare-ups, ankylosis, and radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The case will be returned for new opinions from VA medical professionals.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, joint osteoarthritis, and patellar instability.,Service connection was also granted for left knee strain, joint osteoarthritis, patellar instability, meniscal tear, and fracture. The Veteran's left foot pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and drop foot were also found to be related to service.

Service connection is granted for right ankle osteoarthritis. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any right wrist disability.

The Veteran's service-connected mental disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's spine and hip disabilities have been remanded for further examination.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of updated treatment records and the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left hip disability, including range of motion testing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The reduction in disability rating from 30% to 20% for recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder with osteoarthritis was found to be improper and restored the original 30% rating. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability was also denied.