Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee condition, manifested by painful motion and flexion between 125 and 130 degrees with extension to 0 degrees, warrants a 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 4.59.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since July 26, 2016. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including scheduling the Veteran for an examination to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's left and right knee degenerative arthritis have been rated at 10 percent each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of limitation of flexion or extension beyond what is already contemplated by these ratings.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and total knee replacement, has been rated at 60 percent since January 1, 2012. The appeal is granted for this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the December 2016 VA examination, specifically regarding functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees as secondary to bilateral pes planus and ankle disabilities.,However, the claims were vacated due to failure to adjudicate on a direct-incurrence basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right knee and residuals of a total left knee replacement. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD and lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded this case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the August 2015 decision, requiring a new VA examination of the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left shoulder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased initial evaluations for degenerative arthritis in the left and right knees prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not causally or etiologically related to his in-service injury, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent effective October 1, 2015. He also received separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right leg sciatic nerve (10%), residual of motor and sensory deficits of the left leg sciatic nerve (10%), radiculopathy of the right leg femoral nerve (10%), and radiculopathy of the left leg femoral nerve (10%).

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10% prior to February 20, 2008. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 20% for the period before February 20, 2008.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's scars of her right knee, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor. The remaining issues regarding her lumbar spine and right knee conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted service connection based on continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection was also granted for a headache disorder, with the onset during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and chronic sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical spine and left upper extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, resulting from a motorcycle accident in service and eventually requiring total knee replacement surgery, is found to be related to his active duty service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.