Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, and hip disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's representative raised a new theory of entitlement that his claimed disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected back and neck disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee patellar fracture, osteoarthritis, patellar joint excess fluid, and patellar osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 13, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, polyarthritis, and chronic Hepatitis C, rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from April 23, 2008 to October 22, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and bilateral dry eye syndrome, but denied service connection for left eye macular hole. The Veteran's claims are remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule him for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches secondary to his cervical spine disability is granted. Other issues are remanded, and the effective date of TDIU is set prior to February 23, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability secondary to low back disability, finding that the Veteran's statements regarding her symptoms are credible and resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right hip, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to potential aggravation by other service-connected conditions. Further evaluations are needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left strain muscle, fascia, and tendon of hip with degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim was previously denied due to lack of evidence linking her condition to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis has been reopened and granted. Effective June 12, 2018, the Veteran is now assigned a 30 percent rating for left hip limitation of extension under Diagnostic Code 5252, a 30 percent rating for right hip limitation of extension under Diagnostic Code 5252, a 20 percent rating for left hip limitation of abduction, adduction, and rotation under Diagnostic Code 5253, and a 20 percent rating for right hip limitation of abduction, adduction, and rotation under Diagnostic Code 5253.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee pain with degenerative arthritis is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis. The claims for left collar bone impairment, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, and right elbow olecranon bursitis with arthritis are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of flexion and extension, is rated at 20 percent effective October 20, 2015.,A separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability of the right knee is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder and has determined that she is entitled to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board also found that she is entitled to service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which was secondary to her now service-connected lumbar disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left shoulder disability was rated at 20% since November 18, 2005, but the Board found no evidence of motion limited to 25 degrees from side, which would warrant a higher rating. For the lumbar spine disability, the Veteran's condition did not meet the schedular criteria for an increased rating prior to January 29, 2021, and after that date, it was also denied. The TDIU claim was denied as there was no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities during the relevant period.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to June 1, 2020, and a higher rating of greater than 40 percent thereafter was denied.,A separate 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was granted. A higher rating of greater than 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right foot arthritis, left foot arthritis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The cases are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's claimed conditions as his claims were previously denied based on lack of a nexus to service.

All appeals for increased ratings and effective dates are dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development.