Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been granted. The rating for the lumbosacral strain has also been increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The rating for allergic rhinitis is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes, as his flexion was limited to no worse than 60 degrees and extension to no worse than 10 degrees.

The Veteran's right foot disability, which includes a fracture to mid-shaft area of the second metatarsal and degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 20 percent since June 12, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete employment history records and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's work-related functional limitations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no medical evidence establishing a direct or secondary relationship between the condition and his service-connected psychiatric disorder with traumatic brain injury.,For the period prior to December 16, 2020, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was rated at 10 percent. The claim for an increased rating beyond this level was denied as there is no evidence showing that his condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during service.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions are all denied as the evidence does not support direct service connection.

The Veteran's right knee mild chondromalacia patella and left knee osteoarthritis have been rated as 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The lumbar strain has also been rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's service connection claims for insomnia (claimed as major depression), erectile dysfunction, and TDIU due to a service-connected disability are all remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding a higher initial disability rating for the service-connected back scar and an earlier effective date for service connection. The reduction from 40% to 20% in the disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was found proper based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the January 2016 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current back disorder is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements and a previous medical opinion.

The Veteran's back disability was reduced from a 40 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, which the Board found improper and restored the original 40 percent rating.

The Board denied separate compensable evaluations for right knee conditions and service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee condition is now granted.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease, effective from May 3, 2011.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings and effective dates related to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, right lower extremity due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from October 1, 2014, to July 8, 2020. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted during this period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to August 10, 2021, and greater than 20 percent thereafter was denied. A 20 percent rating was granted for osteoarthritis of the right hip and left hip.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as due to service-connected bilateral sacroiliitis of the lumbar spine and denied a higher rating for bilateral sacroiliitis of the lumbar spine. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders and neck are remanded.