Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, diagnosed lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis. The claims for right lower extremity radiculopathy and pelvic disability were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied, but the Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess whether he developed a meniscal condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee osteoarthritis and tinnitus, made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 5, 2011. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) during this period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his disability rating was reduced to 90 percent from May 1, 2022. He does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on a single disability rated at 40% or more and sufficient additional disabilities to bring the combined overall rating to 70% or more.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is the primary factor in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Other conditions, such as left knee strain, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbosacral strain, right foot hallux valgus, and left foot hallux valgus, also contribute but do not significantly impact his employability.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) was granted service connection secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease. The effective date for this grant is November 27, 2017.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and osteoarthritis, as well as DDD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to a motor vehicle accident sustained during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as breathing issues), to include as secondary to right knee disability, is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, sciatic radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, chronic left ankle sprain, left knee strain, tinnitus, and left hand eczema with resolved cellulitis, do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his increased rating for right shoulder disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but has remanded his claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease with thoracic back strain (lumbar spine disability).

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, change in bowel pattern, hypertension, long head of biceps rupture, numbness of bilateral arms, right shoulder disability, and osteoarthritis are all denied. The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia is also denied as his rating remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left hip disability, characterized by strain and osteoarthritis, does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation based on limitation of flexion or impairment of the thigh.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate VA examination, and further evaluation is needed to determine if any right knee disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, is related to service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's rating for bilateral pes planus was reduced from 50% to 10%, and his rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was restored from 20% to 40%. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected, but his back disorder related to heavy lifting and pain during service has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder ACL joint osteoarthritis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's lay accounts of in-service injuries are credible and outweigh the negative opinions from VA clinicians.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided to the Veteran was inadequate and remanded for a new examination. The issues of service connection for right hand degenerative arthritis and right wrist ulnocarpal impaction syndrome are being remanded due to the need for clarification on the nature and cause of the Veteran's pre-service condition.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.