Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to grant a higher rating and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination. For the period beginning April 2, 2019, the Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines as there was a full grant of benefits in a September 2022 rating decision.,The case is remanded for further development regarding an initial compensable disability rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's back disability was restored to a 20 percent rating effective November 8, 2016. The appeal for an increased rating and service connection for sleep impairment is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition, including his service connection claim and etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10% prior to August 31, 2022, and at 30% thereafter. The Veteran's instability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the temporary total evaluation for convalescence due to partial revision left knee surgery beyond October 31, 2017 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 30 percent for his left and right knee disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee from May 11, 2016 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain and spinal stenosis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status, for periods other than September 12, 2017, to November 1, 2017, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and a TDIU have been remanded due to procedural issues. The initial rating for unspecified depressive disorder prior to May 21, 2019 was denied, while the claim for major depressive disorder from that date has been granted at 70%. The lumbosacral strain claim was also denied prior to May 21, 2019 and the degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS claim was granted at 20% effective May 21, 2019. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity claims were both granted with a 20% rating from October 23, 2020. The TDIU claim prior to July 11, 2014 was denied.

The Veteran's IVDS with degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, as well as his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, are rated at 40 percent since May 16, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings more than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with low back strain, radiculopathy of femoral nerve in the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of femoral nerve in the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a rating higher than 30 percent for either knee disability, effective May 1, 2016, for the left knee, or August 1, 2020, for the right knee.

The Veteran's right hip disabilities are being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to the possibility of additional impairment from service-connected conditions, including a potential leg-length discrepancy and a possible neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, including lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right elbow osteoarthritis (limitation of flexion) is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,For his left elbow lateral epicondylitis and osteoarthritis (limitation of flexion), he is also currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of September 13, 2012. The Board has remanded the issue for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration from January 9, 2012, to September 13, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's participation in the VA Choice program at Craft Chiropractic Center.

Your appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine is dismissed as you opted into the AMA review system.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new evidence received in the record. The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and other conditions are being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis with tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that his current disability was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service that caused these conditions.