Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left knee sprain with instability is granted a 30 percent rating, effective from December 17, 2007, to the present. From February 24, 2015, entitlement for left knee osteoarthritis is granted a separate 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 10 percent prior to August 1, 2023 and at 20 percent from that date. The left ankle fracture and dislocation are currently rated at 20 percent. The left hip strain with arthritis and right hip strain with arthritis remain rated at 20 percent each. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis with knee instability is rated at 10 percent prior to August 1, 2023 and remains rated at 40 percent from that date.,The Board has remanded the cases of left hip strain with arthritis and right hip strain with arthritis for additional examination. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis with knee instability is also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy have not been found to warrant a higher rating, with the exception of a temporary increase in rating since September 6, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and providing an adequate opinion regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period between February 21, 2013, to May 15, 2014.,TDIU was denied for the period from May 16, 2014, to August 31, 2020. The Veteran's combined rating at this time did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision acknowledges the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service and finds that there is relative equipoise in determining whether a pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's hip disabilities and TDIU claim, including VA examinations and private medical records. The claims are therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to inadequate examination records. The Veteran's statements and clinical records will be used to determine the severity of his conditions during the specified time period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's right shoulder disability claim for development due to an administrative error in the assignment of a hearing docket.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain, bilateral knee instability and meniscal condition, and low back disability are all granted. The right ankle sprain is granted with service connection established. Increased ratings for the knees and a lower rating for the low back prior to August 17, 2022 are also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of September 11, 2018. Prior to this date, the evidence did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including for rheumatoid arthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease and acetabular cyst status post total hip replacement, osteoarthritis or unspecified joints, psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, compromised immune system, fever sores, and enlarged liver. The remand requires additional development to address the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during his duties as a missile crewman.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for instability has been granted.,The Veteran's left knee arthritis is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher initial evaluations were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues, including new psychiatric disorders and chronic pain conditions. The right knee patella tendonitis with degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent since June 30, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, right elbow degenerative joint disease, right wrist degenerative joint disease, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for left hip limitation of extension is granted, with the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5251.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for bilateral trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of the bilateral upper extremities.