Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability existed prior to service and was aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist residuals, including carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder was granted with an effective date of April 29, 2014. The Veteran is also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical strain to include degenerative arthritis. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a new opinion regarding a lumbar spine disorder and service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with stenosis and radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions in prior decisions. The Veteran's service connection claims are now pending again.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right hand/arm disorder and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis. The decision finds that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claim, as his current back conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion and extension was denied. The evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current 10 percent assigned under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective from September 9, 2016. The conditions are rated under the criteria for degenerative arthritis with dislocated cartilage.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for PTSD. The left and right knees are currently rated as 10% disabling each, but the Veteran asserts entitlement to higher ratings.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal regarding the reduction of her disability rating for cervical strain with muscle tension and degenerative arthritis C5-6 from 30 percent to 20 percent, effective November 1, 2016. The Board dismissed this issue as a result.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been characterized by pain and degenerative changes, but the limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, extension limited to 10 degrees or more, favorable ankylosis of the knee at full extension or in slight flexion between 0 and 10 degrees, and recurrent subluxation or instability that is 'moderate' in nature have not been shown. As such, entitlement to increased ratings for his left knee disabilities has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied claims for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn. The Board finds that the reduction of his disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper, and restored the original 30 percent evaluation.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to additional evidence added after the September 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU, and they do not render him unemployable on an extraschedular basis for the rating period prior to September 29, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability and for entitlement to TDIU prior to November 4, 2015. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right wrist injury, residuals of a right ankle sprain prior to March 26, 2019, and osteoarthritis of the right knee status post arthroscopic surgery have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 50% rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee status post arthroscopic surgery effective from October 28, 2011 has been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to November 14, 2017 is granted. The remaining issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine condition and lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.