Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left shoulder and upper arm injury, and right shoulder and upper arm injury. The decision also grants these conditions as secondary to a service-connected disability (cervical spine).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, both related to his active duty training period. The decision also grants secondary service connection for the left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of anatomical loss or use of both feet or one hand and one foot. The Veteran was found capable of performing activities of daily living with assistance but not requiring regular aid and attendance.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to his service. The AOJ will need to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain are being remanded due to a lack of consideration of lay evidence regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

Your appeal to connect your right knee strain with degenerative arthritis to service is dismissed.

The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus and bilateral flatfoot (pes planus) with degenerative arthritis have been rated as noncompensable and 30 percent, respectively. The claims for left and right hand disabilities are being remanded.,Service connection is not at issue in these cases.

The Board has granted effective dates for service connection and remanded the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of individual unemployability prior to May 25, 2018 on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities prior to May 18, 2017 due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left hand disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or immediately after service. The Board finds the Veteran's assertions regarding in-service injuries are not credible due to inconsistencies with contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and additional development is necessary. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including atraumatic multidirectional subluxation of the right shoulder and sprain of the right shoulder cuff capsule, is being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination reports and a need for a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis during the period prior to July 26, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for edema, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in March 2024. The AOJ is required to obtain copies of non-VA medical records from VistA Imaging system and provide an addendum medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from December 24, 2016. Prior to that date, he was working and did not meet the criteria for TDIU as he was not unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left and right foot plantar callosities have been granted initial 20 percent ratings, while the higher rating claims for both feet are denied.,Service connection has been established for bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder condition and neck condition due to insufficient information from VA medical records. The Veteran is advised to provide any additional relevant records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance, but do not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.