Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and service connection for lower extremity radiculopathies. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable for the period on appeal prior to January 24, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to May 13, 2016 is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased evaluation for low back disabilities and initial evaluations for radiculopathy of the right sciatic and femoral nerves.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia was granted, and the effective date is set at April 4, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee is remanded due to concerns about worsening symptoms and reduced effectiveness of injections.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis with ankylosis, effective from February 9, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during his Board Hearing. The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, spinal stenosis, and lumbar-sacral spondylosis.

The Board dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability. The effective date for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis was denied as it is not earlier than September 23, 2014. A compensable evaluation for migraine headaches was denied. For the period prior to March 2, 2020, a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine disability with associated radiculopathy was granted; however, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his knee conditions.,Separate ratings higher than 10 percent are denied for non-LOM symptomatology in both knees.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and right knee osteoarthritis, finding an approximate balance of evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are related to service, granting their claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from January 15, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU effective February 6, 2010.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from November 7, 2022. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability and sciatic nerve condition due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. Further examination is required.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for osteoarthritis of right knee, right hip, and back. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA treatment records, SSA records, and private treatment records as well as an addendum VA opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and a bowel disorder claimed as IBS due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service, and the failure to show onset during or related to service. The Board also denied service connection for an IBS disorder because there is no current diagnosis of IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PFB, right knee PFS, and left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis have been granted. The conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted, while the claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right hand disorder is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, low back disability other than lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, and stomach disability other than chronic constipation and hemorrhoids.,There is no evidence of record showing that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.