Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence received from VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for osteoarthritis is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria, and no extraschedular rating was granted. The Board found that the evidence did not establish he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for painful motion with flexion, and the Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for painful motion with flexion, and the Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his service-connected disabilities have been denied. His lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) at 40 percent, and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) at 20 percent.

The Veteran's left and right knee conditions are granted restoration of a 10 percent disability rating, effective July 14, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's left shoulder condition is being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271.,The Veteran's left foot degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5284. The Veteran's post-surgical scar on his left foot does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the reduction in rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, so this issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated noncompensable prior to June 7, 2021, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board denied a higher rating for the period on appeal prior to June 7, 2021.,For the period from June 7, 2021, the Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for lateral instability of the left knee and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and PTSD have been granted service connection on a direct basis.,Service connection for ED is remanded as secondary to PTSD. Service connection for headaches is also remanded as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for unspecified mood disorder has been granted, but the claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis as well as TDIU are being remanded.,The Board found that the Veteran's mood disorder warrants a 70 percent rating, while his other conditions require further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for additional months of service-connected compensation for various conditions have been denied. The effective dates and payment start dates are legally correct.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that entitlement to service connection did not arise until a March 2018 independent medical examination.

Effective dates of May 22, 1996 are granted for service connection of left knee limitation of flexion and impairment.,Effective dates of April 14, 1998 are granted for service connection of left hip disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine rating has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development regarding potential exposure to PFAS firefighting foam and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis resulted in extension limited at worst to 20 degrees, and his right knee instability manifested as an incomplete ligament tear causing persistent instability. The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthmatic bronchitis has been granted with an effective date of September 19, 2019. The other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination in the previous decision. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's disability.

Your appeals for service connection and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in October 2024.