Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and instability are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the mid-back, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 18, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine on a direct basis. However, it denied restoration of the PTSD rating from 70 to 30 percent effective January 1, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of January 29, 2020. The Board referred the issue of a TDIU rating prior to January 29, 2020 for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing that the right shoulder condition first manifested in service or within a year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, as secondary to service-connected DDD with spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and right knee osteoarthritis with total knee replacement. Additional addendum opinions are needed to address the Veteran's theory that changes in biomechanics due to other service-connected conditions have aggravated his left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with herniated disc L4-5 was granted a 40% disability rating for the period from March 30, 2015 to May 10, 2022. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms and limitations more nearly approximated the criteria for a 40% rating during this period.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral talonavicular osteoarthritis, resection of the distal phalanx of the right great toe, left foot calluses, and resection of the metatarsal head and proximal phalanx of the left fifth toe have been denied. The issues related to these conditions are currently pending on remand.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee instability and left knee strain due to inadequate medical opinions regarding functional loss and severity of symptoms during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment evidence and because more than one hearing was held by separate Veterans Law Judges.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, right meniscus tear, and bilateral osteoarthritis. The VA is required to obtain updated treatment records and seek a new medical opinion from an orthopedic specialist.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are rated at 40 percent from August 27, 2018 to January 18, 2019. The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knees due to lack of proper range of motion measurements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis and headaches were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to August 10, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and his left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right foot, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and that any such condition is not related to his service-connected right heel stress fracture.

The Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted increased ratings, with the right lower extremity radiculopathy also receiving a separate rating. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.