Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and TBI/post-concussion syndrome with headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The claim for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right hip, and left knee disorders were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The disorders are not secondary to the service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the previous examination report, specifically regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The claim will be further evaluated with an updated medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and DVT of the left leg due to recent examinations revealing new symptoms and functional limitations. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, higher ratings for his left knee disabilities, and entitlement to TDIU prior to August 13, 2002. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners and a need for new examinations.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia, were rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has partially granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder, but the Veteran's symptoms may warrant a higher evaluation. The VA must obtain and consider additional private treatment records related to his back and radiculopathy issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's right knee instability and painful motion have been restored to a 20 percent disability rating from August 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for right-knee disorder. The Veteran's in-service complaints of right-knee issues need to be addressed, along with his lay statements.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lichen planus simplex has been denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and the Board remanded several of his service-connected disability ratings for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to service, including his bootcamp activities and motor man duties. Additional development is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for disabilities of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that his current service-connected conditions (postoperative instability with limitation of motion, right knee; degenerative arthritis, left knee; restless leg syndrome with radiculopathy, right and left lower extremities) are the only disabilities of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis status post total replacement with femoral impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with a lumbosacral strain, spondylosis, and scoliosis. Service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating prior to May 18, 2017, for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate previous VA examinations and the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis was denied, but he received a TDIU effective from November 11, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis was granted, effective May 15, 2018.

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office did not substantially comply with its development orders and thus, these claims must be remanded again for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.