Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and left ankle chronic posterior tibialis tendinopathy and talar edema, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1 with degenerative arthritis of the spine, chronic right ankle sprain, and status post left arthroscopic meniscectomy with post-operative scarring due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided new VA examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology within one year after service and attributing the current condition to a motor vehicle accident several decades post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, upper extremity radiculopathy, and osteoarthritis. The issues include a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion prior to March 2, 2017, and from March 2, 2017; compensable ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy; and compensable ratings for right and left upper extremity disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include scars, osteoarthritis of the knee, degenerative disc disease at C4-C5 and C5-C6 levels, and neuritis of the infrapatellar cutaneous nerve.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim. Therefore, all issues have been remanded to obtain additional VA examinations and address any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, but he does not have at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more. The Board has referred his TDIU claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected knee disabilities, tinnitus, and depression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling him for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues, effective from March 16, 2012. The Veteran is also being asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940 for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evaluation of the relationship between service-connected conditions and the Veteran's death. The examiner is asked to determine if there was a causal connection.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,A TDIU claim has also been identified as being inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion in a previous VA examination, and requires additional evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is related to service or if it had its onset prior to retirement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip condition, cervical spine condition (claimed as neck condition), and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted. The claims for an increased rating for right hip degenerative joint disease, entitlement to SMC based on housebound status, and temporary total evaluation are remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine, post status of lumbar discectomy and fusion has been rated at 50 percent since August 28, 2014. The Board found that there is unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine but not the entire spine, resulting in a denial of a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including his right knee degenerative arthritis and right knee meniscal tear status post-surgical repair, is at least as likely as not related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 16, 2015 for a 20 percent rating for right foot osteoarthritis. However, the appeal is still pending as the Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the issue of the Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 5, 2016 due to insufficient evidence. The matter is now referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The current rating of 20% is maintained from November 26, 2014 to June 18, 2018.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent since July 13, 2016. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date and for separate ratings for specific conditions of the knee have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis and lumbar degenerative disc disease are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of recent evidence.