Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under current rating criteria, with no evidence of additional limitation or instability warranting higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis, left leg tibia and fibula malunion with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis and DDD with neural impingement at the C6-C7 disc, and right shoulder tendonitis and arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis and right hip strain are granted service connection as they were incurred during active duty.,The Veteran's heart palpitations are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obesity, which is a component in determining whether his service-connected orthopedic and psychiatric disabilities cause or aggravate his obesity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The issue of service connection for right knee disability (secondary to service-connected left knee osteoarthritis) is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal condition, bilateral shoulder condition, and other conditions. The underlying merits of these claims are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder has been granted a 40 percent rating from April 6, 2012 and continuing thereafter.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches, a back condition, a neck condition, and a left shoulder condition. The Veteran's disabilities are not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's left ankle strain and osteoarthritis prior to July 7, 2015 were rated at 20 percent. From November 1, 2015 to October 12, 2020, the Veteran was granted a separate rating of 10 percent for instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, with the majority of issues being granted. Service connection is now established for neck disability and headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, and a low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hammertoe.

The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder have been granted. The heart disability claim is remanded, as are the claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and right ankle. The Veteran's gastritis with GERD claim also requires further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing service treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are causally linked to her military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent from August 7, 2014. The right knee disability is also granted a higher rating of 60 percent from the same date.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting findings in a previous VA examination report, specifically regarding the range of motion for the Veteran's left knee.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left and right ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limited motion.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, right knee patellar tendonitis, and left knee patellar tendonitis and plica irritation. The other conditions are remanded for further evaluation.