Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has restored a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee instability effective February 1, 2019. The reduction from 20% to zero percent was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent lumbosacral spine disability, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis. The Board found no evidence of such disabilities during active service or within one year after separation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for joint pain due to undiagnosed illness and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis should be remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of a VA Form 10182, which was not appropriate for his legacy system appeals. The AOJ must issue an SOC and allow the Veteran to file a substantive appeal if he wishes to continue his appeal under the legacy appeals system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent right and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, but the Board finds no evidence of a claim prior to September 23, 2011.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded as it is intertwined with the increased rating issues for the right knee.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate for determining the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The Veteran's service-connected left foot disability is believed to have caused or aggravated his current back, hip, and knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on four knee and back disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis status post lumbar laminectomy and intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability), cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, and bilateral knee chondrocalcinosis and degenerative arthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury from a land mine explosion and continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, and degenerative arthritis of the feet based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to inadequate examination findings and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various foot, ankle, and knee conditions as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right ankle disabilities have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically regarding his low back strain with degenerative joint disease, cervical spine condition, left clavicle fracture, and other symptoms. The issues are related to determining appropriate disability ratings based on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded due to its inextricability from the rating claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for headaches due to withdrawal. The issues of service connection for a right middle finger disorder, increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability), right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis are REMANDED.

The Veteran's right ankle instability is granted with a separate 20 percent rating.,Entitlement to an increased rating for chronic sinusitis and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees with shin splint are being remanded due to new evidence added to their claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the current severity of his left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and back disorder. The issues include seeking a higher rating for left knee disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a back disorder secondary to left knee disability.