Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, which includes symptoms of both psoriatic and osteoarthritis, warrants remanded for further evaluation. The appeal is related to increased ratings and temporary total convalescent ratings following surgeries, as well as service connection for scars secondary to a total knee replacement.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee joint replacement is denied, and his initial compensable rating for a scar on the left lower extremity is also denied. The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is rated at 10 percent prior to September 9, 2019, and 30 percent from November 1, 2020. Service connection for hemorrhoids, cataract condition, kidney stones, sleep apnea, ear condition, left ankle conditions, right ankle conditions, and sensorineural hearing loss are all denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spondylolisthesis, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, and bilateral hip strains as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error involving missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The SSA records are needed to fully assess the Veteran's disability picture and its impact on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability, right lower sciatic nerve extremity, left lower sciatic nerve extremity, and left ankle osteoarthritis with fracture has been granted. The effective date is not specified as the decision was made in October 2023.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 100% disabling since November 20, 2019. He also has additional disabilities that combine to at least 60%, qualifying him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the subsection (s) rate.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee strain, and left wrist sprain. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to a lack of an opinion on whether OSA is aggravated by tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the failure to obtain necessary medical records and provide an adequate VA medical opinion regarding his lower back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and tinea corporis, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the combined schedular evaluation of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was improperly reduced. The Board has restored the original 40 percent rating effective December 1, 2021.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including post-operative medial meniscal tear and instability following ACL reconstruction, is rated at 30 percent from April 26, 2017 to April 4, 2018. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for limitation of extension and flexion during the same period.,Effective April 5, 2018, a total knee replacement (TKR) was performed, resulting in a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to new and relevant evidence having been submitted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and traumatic brain injury have been returned to the RO for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient information in the VA opinions provided. The AOJ will consider all relevant evidence of record, including subsequent VA treatment records and the Veteran's September 2022 argument on the VA Form 20-0995.

The Board has restored a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion, effective August 1, 2021. The reduction from 30 to 10 percent was improper due to insufficient evidence demonstrating actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for the right shoulder disorder. The claims for lumbar spine, left hip, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has decided that an effective date of January 21, 2016, but no earlier, is granted for the award of service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and cervicalgia. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating in excess of 30 percent from August 21, 2017, for the cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability from December 10, 2012 to April 14, 2021 was denied. For the period from December 3, 2021 to April 14, 2021, he received a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's disability ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and bilateral upper extremities were restored to their original levels due to procedural errors in reducing these ratings.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 9, 2020 for the Veteran's service connection of right hip osteoarthritis with degenerative arthritis. The earliest communication regarding this condition was in the Veteran's July 9, 2020 claim.

The appeal was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal before a decision could be made.