Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service. The examiner must consider post-service treatment records, a 1993 medical opinion, and other factors in determining causation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, back pain, and bilateral lower extremity conditions have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as he has requested withdrawal of his appeal in its entirety.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to determine the severity of the Veteran's spine disability during flare-ups, as well as the etiology of his right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are currently rated based on their service-connected status. The Board has found that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding his PTSD, warranting a 70% disability rating prior to December 5, 2019, but not higher. Other issues remain remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder, finding that his pre-existing neck disorder was not aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left tibia fracture residuals, right knee osteoarthritis, and chronic gastritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for tinnitus.,For the remaining conditions, the Board determined that the current 10 percent ratings adequately reflected the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee conditions, including arthritis and patellar subluxation, were rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating schedule. The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his combined service-connected disabilities prior to November 8, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee degenerative arthritis and instability was denied. He is currently rated 10 percent for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantial, gainful employment for the period prior to January 30, 2019.

Service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis is dismissed.,Service connection for transient blindness associated with migraine headaches and/or seizures is granted.

The Veteran's right hip disability, characterized by limitation of abduction, adduction, or rotation, was rated at 20 percent prior to October 4, 2022. The separate ratings for flexion and extension were also assigned as noncompensably disabling until October 4, 2022, when they were increased to 10 percent each.

The Veteran is granted effective dates of January 28, 2004 for the grant of service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine disability, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis, limitation of extension, and instability. The VA will obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is granted at a 40 percent rating, effective from March 16, 2012. The other issues related to cervical spine and upper extremities have been resolved with either grants or denials.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees as the appellant requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues related to increased ratings for PTSD, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve. He also requested withdrawal of the TDIU issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, back disability, and right hip disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for service-connected lumbar spine strain and right knee disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.