Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee strain and osteoarthritis are related to his service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since May 23, 2016. The claim for a higher rating before that date remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied by the Board, as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted such an increase.

The Board has identified multiple issues related to the Veteran's hip and ankle conditions, as well as hypertension. These claims are being remanded for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain with spondylolysis and grade spondylolisthesis at L5-S1, and right hip degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, and lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder due to chronic pain and multiple knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and a higher rating for his right knee disability, leaving only the left knee issues unresolved. The Board dismissed these remaining issues as moot.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 20, 2013.

The Veteran's ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including pes planus with plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, left foot hallux valgus, and left plantar calcaneal spur, is currently rated at 50 percent prior to September 8, 2022, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter. The claim remains pending as the Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a 20 percent rating effective December 10, 2019. The right total knee replacement with residual of decreased range of motion and pain is also rated at a 20 percent rating from the same date. Service connection for back disability has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his thoracolumbar spine disability and related nerve radiculopathy issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including post-operative hardware and subchondral cystic change at the distal tibia, was evaluated as osteoarthritis. The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his right ankle disability but granted a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability since August 11, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, right hip and left hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.,Further development is needed to determine if there are any current diagnoses or symptoms of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started in service and has continued since then. The cervical spine, low back, and left hip disorders are remanded for additional development as the VA examiners' opinions did not consider pertinent service treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to June 7, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU from January 1, 2020 as he was found to be substantially gainfully employed after March 15, 2021.