Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The issues of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as hidradenitis suppurativa, are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The claims for service connection for residuals of a right total hip arthroplasty with degenerative arthritis and left hip disability are remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The Board finds that VA's duty to assist requires obtaining medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with spinal stenosis has been dismissed because he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and the need for a new VA examination to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee condition have been remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his periods of active duty and Reserve service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is proximately due to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for anemia was denied, while the claims for anxiety disorder, right knee osteoarthritis, and GERD resulted in a 50% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied as the criteria for higher ratings have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for prostate hypertrophy, gastrointestinal disorder, kidney stones, skin disorders, pseudogout, anemia, osteoarthritis, lumbar spine disorder, RLE sciatica, LLE sciatica, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals. Service connection has been granted for coronary artery disease and hypertension on a presumptive basis due to exposure in Guam or its territorial waters from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability. The RO is instructed to obtain a new addendum opinion from an orthopedic specialist that addresses all potentially favorable evidence, including continuity of symptoms post-service and a claim for service connection 2 months after separation.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left foot fracture are all rated at their maximum levels. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion equivalent to or more severe than flexion limited to 60 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees.,For his left knee instability, the Veteran's symptoms are best approximated as moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, warranting a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5257. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for instability, but the initial ratings for other conditions remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder. However, the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of prior formal or informal claims filed before April 24, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability because no new and material evidence was submitted to support his claim, which had previously been denied in 2012.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The claims for erectile dysfunction, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and other issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder and ankle disabilities, as the prior VA examinations did not provide all required information.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination regarding the Veteran's right knee conditions.