Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right wrist disability, which includes a scaphoid fracture and degenerative arthritis with fusion surgery, is rated at 40 percent effective January 1, 2021. The claim for increased rating was granted but the issues of service connection for right hand and finger disabilities as secondary to his right wrist disability, and for a right knee disability, are being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and patellofemoral compartment osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or instability warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination and a retrospective opinion on his right shoulder disability prior to February 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for other specified stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder is granted, effective from March 30, 2020. His separate ratings for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and glenohumeral joint instability and dislodged fixation screw (under DC 5201) and left shoulder recurrent dislocation (under DC 5202) are maintained at 20 percent each.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hand degenerative arthritis and right hand strain, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical condition and left ankle condition due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound of the left lower extremity and a left knee disability has been dismissed as moot due to full grants in prior decisions.,Service connection was granted for both conditions from February 2, 2018.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted a disability rating of 20 percent each, effective from June 3, 2014. The lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with lumbago and subluxation of L4-L5 was also granted a disability rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and other specified depressive disorder are all granted as service-connected.,PTSD is linked to in-service stressors, while the other conditions have been granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is restored to a 20 percent rating, and his intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine and scoliosis is granted a 40 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating beyond 40 percent for this condition remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including frequent episodes of locking, pain, and swelling, is now rated at a separate 20 percent effective from August 16, 2018.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent prior to December 20, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further development and proceedings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent for his lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis due to a lack of adequate examination findings.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis have been granted service connection. The Veteran's recurrent lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disorders were not present during active duty, did not manifest within one year of service, and are not attributable to service.,Bilateral pes planus was identified as a pre-existing disability on entry into active duty, but the condition was not aggravated beyond its natural progression in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left shoulder strain, and right ankle strain. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.,The Veteran was not diagnosed with any of these conditions until years after separation from service, and there is no medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for various conditions were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The decision did not specify a particular effective date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for OSA is denied. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.