Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without showing good cause.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups and after repeated use over time. The Veteran is also being remanded for a TDIU claim as it is inextricably intertwined with his knee disability claims.

The Veteran's right knee was granted a separate rating of 20 percent for a meniscus condition, while his left and right knees were denied increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis with stenosis of the cervical spine and degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that these conditions began during active service.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection, including blurred vision, left foot degenerative arthritis, bilateral foot gout, and related numbness and tingling. The Veteran's exposure to toxins in service is a factor considered in the remand.

The Veteran's left foot degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis are remanded due to inadequate VA nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left ankle disability due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for further examination. The issues include determining if these disabilities are related to his service-connected knee disabilities, as well as considering obesity as an intermediate step in establishing secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inconsistencies in prior examinations, need for clarification of flare-ups, and lack of recent private treatment records. The Veteran will be asked to provide authorization for release of any relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, diagnosed as trench foot with degenerative arthritis and bone spur, are rated at 20 percent each since February 11, 2015.,Additionally, the Veteran is granted a TDIU effective from September 14, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and a left shoulder disability as secondary to the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of his pending claims, including those for increased disability ratings for various thigh and knee disabilities. The Board has dismissed these claims as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an effective date earlier than August 11, 2020 for his increased right knee disability rating and denied a higher rating for his right knee disability. The claim for an effective date was withdrawn by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee degenerative joint diseases due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection and compensable evaluations were granted, with the earliest date being July 31, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 15, 2011 to January 17, 2017. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining his complete service personnel records for his period of service in the Navy Reserves. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all Reserve treatment records, specifically any medical records, pertaining to his service in the Army Reserve from October 2008 to April 2013.

The Veteran's right index finger disability, characterized by stiffness and weakness aggravated by use along with mild arthritis of the joint, has been rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability), and erectile dysfunction as secondary to major depressive disorder. The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating since February 11, 2010. The right hip and right knee disabilities are each granted a 10 percent rating.