Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions from VA medical professionals. The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy are currently diagnosed, but there is insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The left eyebrow linear scar remains at 10 percent. The ratings for right face and neck residual scars are remanded due to insufficient evidence. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete examination findings and lack of compliance with VA guidelines.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of the appropriate rating(s) to be assigned for the left total knee replacement performed in April 2019 pursuant to the rating criteria under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has denied service connection for a left wrist and hand disability, including as secondary to a service-connected left ring finger disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of left ulnar styloid process fracture, left hand arthritis, and left wrist osteoarthritis are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for his low back strain due to conflicting medical evidence and lack of adequate retrospective opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, foot, shoulder, and back disabilities due to incomplete adjudication of his claims. The AOJ is required to provide a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during active duty or any in-service injury. The VA examiner confirmed the presence of left knee osteoarthritis and tendinitis but found insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and consideration of his medical history, including VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with additional opinions from appropriate clinicians.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Effective dates for PTSD, right shoulder (major) degenerative arthritis and rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied as the claim was not filed within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's TDIU prior to September 1, 2020 is dismissed due to mootness.

The Veteran's shin splints are currently rated by analogy under Diagnostic Code 5262, which relates to impairment of the tibia and fibula. The Board finds that an initial 10 percent rating is warranted for each lower extremity as the Veteran has actually painful joints.,To be adequate, VA examination reports must include testing of both, left and right, limbs or joints. Therefore, a remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, right foot strain, and left thumb degenerative joint disease due to a lack of compliance with previous orders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty and TDIU prior to January 10, 2022. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to her right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

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The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied, and the case is remanded due to an unclear decision on TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disability, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted effective dates of November 15, 2016 for the awards of a 10% disability rating for bilateral hallux valgus. The issues of increased ratings for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his service-connected neck, low back, GERD, and esophageal stricture disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for clarification of functional loss.