Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as his VA Form 9, which he requested to reopen the claim, was not received within 60 days of the December 2013 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's left and right knee degenerative arthritis, as well as his left ankle strain, are all granted with specific ratings. The Veteran is awarded a separate 10 percent rating for instability in the right knee, and a 20 percent rating for left ankle strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from December 10, 2010, to December 20, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a direct relationship to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and records to determine the current severity of his left knee disability, including any meniscus condition. The effective date for service connection remains September 25, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to appellate dispostion due to the inadequacy of the September 2018 VA examination for assessing the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The case is REMANDED for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's condition did not manifest as chronic in service or within a presumptive period and was not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's eye condition is not service-connected, but has remanded the issue of arthritis/osteoarthritis for further development.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective as of November 13, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his skin condition, left tibia stress fracture with osteoarthritis, and right tibia stress fracture with osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA will schedule a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's PFB and provide updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbosacral strain and lumbar stenosis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's neck symptoms at specific points in the past, including May 28, 2012, to June 30, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, which may be related to her service or other factors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, specifically to obtain physical therapy records from Hilltop Physical Therapy-Wakeman.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his knee symptoms and service history.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims related to radiculopathy of the upper extremities, ankle sprains, and cervical pain with degenerative arthritis. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia disorder), lumbosacral strain, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, leftward septal deviation, nose and neck scars, and urinary disability (manifested by increased frequency).,The Board found the evidence to be approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted initial disability ratings.,PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle and left ankle disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee strain is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.