Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis with meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tear, instability, and locking, is now rated at a separate 20 percent for the locking condition effective April 20, 2015.

The Veteran's low back condition and various knee conditions have been granted service connection. The left knee rating has been restored to 20%, separate ratings for ankylosis and instability have been granted, and a higher rating for the meniscal condition prior to December 18, 2019 has been granted. However, a higher rating for the left knee status post ACL repair from December 18, 2019 is denied.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left wrist and a back disability (lumbar spine and thoracic spondylosis) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition has been reopened due to new evidence. Other issues have also been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's back disability is remanded for a supplemental VA opinion to determine if it had its onset in or was otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating of 20 percent or higher for his left shoulder condition due to lack of error in law or fact, as the decision was final.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee disability, and respiratory airway disease (COPD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition. The Veteran and his spouse claim that his conditions first manifested in service, while VA opinions suggest they developed after 2000.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to January 25, 2021.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by active-duty service. Headache disability was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the current schedular evaluations do not meet his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, including pes planus, subcalcaneal pain, Morton's neuroma with hallux valgus, and osteoarthritis of the bilateral great toes, are rated at 50 percent. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not large or thrombotic, irreducible, or causing frequent recurrences.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's death from lung cancer and COPD.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD was granted. However, the claim for PTSD itself remains denied.,Service connection for left hip osteoarthritis is also denied as there is no evidence showing it occurred during or as a result of military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee osteoarthritis under DC 5257 and for left knee osteoarthritis based on painful motion due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his left knee condition, specifically related to instability and potential separate ratings for limitation of flexion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and needs further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hand osteopenia, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand disability and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that these conditions began during active service.