Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the January 2023 remand directives and thus, another remand is warranted for further development.

Service connection is granted for right shoulder osteoarthritis, left shoulder osteoarthritis, cervical spine DJD, and cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities.,A separate claim for service connection for right elbow tendonitis is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, degenerative arthritis, IVDS with spinal stenosis, was granted service connection effective February 26, 2004.,Left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted service connection effective February 26, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination regarding the nature of the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder, specifically whether it is a congenital defect or disease and if it was aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear findings regarding the Veteran's right knee conditions, specifically whether he had a meniscal condition or patellar instability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine issues, back problems, dizziness, hemorrhoids, and urethra stricture. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine with bilateral IVDS, left shoulder arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's lower back disability, including a lumbosacral strain, spondylosis, and facet arthropathy with disc bulges, is granted.,Increased evaluations for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and stenosis with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), and left knee disorder have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted for a sleep disorder due to the lack of evidence showing it during or within one year after separation from service. The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking any current sleep disorder to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition during service and no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder and other factors. The VA needs to provide a comprehensive examination and opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with an average hearing acuity of Level I in both ears.,For the period prior to September 22, 2022, the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right shoulder was not productive of limitation of motion or other impairment. After that date, it is rated as 40 percent disabling and above 40 percent thereafter.,The left wrist disorder did not manifest during service, is not otherwise etiologically related to service, arthritis did not manifest within one year of discharge, and is not caused by the Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis. The acquired psychiatric disorder (Persistent Depressive Disorder) was also found not to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability, finding that it is related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including from patellofemoral syndrome to osteoarthritis and subsequent surgeries, warrants a rating of 60 percent since March 29, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as the evidence does not support a separate rating.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal fusion (back disability), and restless leg syndrome are remanded due to insufficient development or evaluation.,Service connection was granted for these conditions but the effective dates were not established. The Board finds that additional development is needed.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis, multiple sites, is granted as service connected. The Board found that the current disability is related to in-service injury and has been recurrent since service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis with IVDS is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted based on incapacitating episodes. The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension prior to November 5, 2018, and remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative disc disease, femoral radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and sciatic radiculopathy. The remand requests additional examinations to address functional impairment due to flare-ups and repetitive use.