Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his sinusitis, right knee disability, left knee disability, painful extension of knees, or instability are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, basilar skull fracture, and status post tympanoplasty, are being remanded for further evaluation due to lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee strain was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, status post repair, and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with scoliosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a re-examination and consideration of flare-ups.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected due to its onset during active service and aggravation by her service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to its manifestation within the 10-year presumptive period following separation from active service in Afghanistan.,The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as service-connected due to its onset during active service.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's chronic bilateral ear disorder is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity nerve damage, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity nerve damage, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is granted as service-connected due to its aggravation by her major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted as service-connected with an increased rating required based on the frequency and severity of attacks.,The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis at L5-S1 prior to September 25, 2019 is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required after that date.,The Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthritis prior to September 25, 2019 is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required after that date.,The Veteran's right knee medial compartment osteoarthritis is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, GERD, and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 4, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right knee disability were denied, with the exception of a grant of an increased rating to 20 percent from February 7, 2019. The Veteran was also granted TDIU status.

The Board has remanded two issues related to service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the right knee due to outstanding VA treatment records from 2013.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability other than calluses, to include plantar fasciitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development and failure to comply with previous remands. The Veteran's right shoulder condition is being reviewed again for proper consideration.

The Board has decided that the evidence is insufficient to determine if the Veteran's current lower back disabilities are related to his service, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of left hip osteoarthritis, finding that it was aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension has been granted. The low back disability remains rated at 40 percent prior to March 8, 2019, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 22, 2017. The Board denied the TDIU claims as there was no single service-connected disability (excluding multiple myeloma rated 100%) rendering the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 22, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy due to outstanding treatment records and conflicting evidence regarding the presence of radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome throughout the period on appeal.

Effective November 30, 2011, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck condition due to the lack of in-service diagnosis and no link to service.

The Veteran's hypertension and left foot condition have been restored to their previous ratings, while the Veteran has been granted increased ratings for these conditions. He also received service connection for secondary conditions related to his left foot condition and a TDIU based on his disabilities.