Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the bilateral hips and Degenerative Arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right knee osteochondroma and osteoarthritis prior to March 4, 2009 are remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back condition and left knee condition due to inadequate factual basis in previous VA opinions, and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding continued pain since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral ear disorder, bilateral hand disorder, and lip disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a current disability or a relationship to service.,There are no current diagnoses for the claimed conditions, and the medical opinions provided do not support a finding that any of these disabilities are related to service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral metatarsalgia and lateral column pain of both feet.,Service connection is granted for right hip osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and hip joint pain.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee disability, right hip disability, right knee osteoarthritis, lower back condition, and mood disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is therefore denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including ratings for chondromalacia patella of the right knee and degenerative changes/degenerative arthritis of the left/right knees. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and no higher.,The Veteran has multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities that do not meet the criteria for a separate 10% disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's inability to attend a VA examination, and requests a medical opinion based on the claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, but the claim for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, lumbosacral spine, with left lower extremity radiculopathy and a right ankle injury are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent from October 7, 2014 to May 25, 2022 and at 20 percent thereafter. The rating for right knee extension remains at 10 percent since October 7, 2014. Right knee instability is rated at 10 percent from October 7, 2014 to May 24, 2022 and denied thereafter.

The Veteran's initial ratings for back disability and right sciatica have been granted at a 20 percent level.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes cavus and service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and left hip disorder are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shoulder injury is also remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.,No effective date was provided as this decision pertains to a remand, not a final determination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, hypertension, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 13, 2018 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran contends his conditions were aggravated in service, but the VA examinations did not adequately consider this claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is denied as not related to service. For the lumbar spine, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 6, 2020 and from July 6, 2020 is also denied due to lack of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis. Right knee chondromalacia and left knee chondromalacia are each rated at the maximum allowable rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is rated at 20 percent, and service connection for osteoarthritis and FAI of the bilateral hips is granted. Service connection for CAM deformity of the hips is denied.