Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from February 1, 2007 to February 22, 2010. Therefore, a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Veteran is granted increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear, with the specific ratings being a 30% rating for limited flexion of the left knee due to degenerative arthritis, a 10% rating for limited extension of the left knee, and a 20% rating for instability of the left knee prior to December 27, 2022. The Veteran's meniscal tear is rated as 20% from December 27, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for a separate rating for right knee instability and increased ratings for bilateral ankle tendinitis and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, with the left knee disability also receiving a 30 percent rating effective from February 22, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder was denied, and his request for an increased rating for right foot disability was granted with a 20% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis and flat feet due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis. The claims for right knee osteoarthritis and right ankle condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from January 9, 2012 to September 13, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased rating and service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's long history of working in a position requiring significant ambulation, combined with his left ankle disability, makes it reasonably possible that he cannot maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to incomplete employment history and impact assessments.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right shoulder, back, knee, ankle, and foot conditions are all found to be etiologically related to his active service.

An effective date of February 24, 2010, but no earlier, for a 20% rating for posttraumatic arthritis of the right shoulder is granted.,Effective from August 23, 2021, a separate 10% rating for right shoulder malunion of the clavicle or scapula is granted.,An effective date of February 27, 2009, but no earlier, for a 20% rating for left knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis is granted.,As of December 12, 2020, a separate 10% rating for residuals of left knee strain with limitation of extension is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including arthritis and other conditions like chondromalacia and patellofemoral syndrome. The decision is based on the presumption of chronicity due to symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to inadequate medical opinions and needs additional development of the medical evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and femoral condyle osteochondritis desiccans, is currently rated at 10 percent for instability. The Board finds a separate 10 percent rating for instability is warranted.,Service connection for left index finger disability was denied. Service connection for residuals of heat stroke (including memory loss) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate reasons and bases provided in the previous decision, specifically regarding the adequacy of VA knee examinations conducted prior to March 30, 2021. The Veteran's right knee disability must be re-evaluated with new VA examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VR&E records and a new evaluation by a VRC or CP to determine if he meets the criteria for a Category I designation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis, cervical segmental dysfunction (neck pain), and compression fracture of L1. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.