Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not productive of actual or functional flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 10 degrees, lateral instability or recurrent subluxation, ankylosis, impairment of the tibia and fibula, dislocated semilunar cartilage, symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, or genu recurvatum. Therefore, his claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is not entitled to secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction, left hip osteoarthritis, or right hip osteoarthritis as these conditions are not caused by his service-connected disabilities. For lumbosacral strain, a new VA examination is required to discount the beneficial effects of pain medications and establish a baseline severity level.

The Veteran's right hip disability and left hip OA with limitation of adduction are rated at 30 percent each, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's motion to revise a non-compensable rating decision for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder is denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the original determination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis is granted as incurred in service and has continued since then.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and femoral-acetabular impingement resulted in functional equivalent of favorable ankylosis, warranting a 60 percent rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of PTSD due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The claim for a higher rating for left knee instability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate examination addressing all diagnosed conditions, including right shoulder strain, bicipital tendonitis, and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for his lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to incomplete service records and a lack of relevant VA treatment records. The Board will seek additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals regarding severance of service connection for his knee conditions, finding that the original decisions were proper and based on factual errors in attributing injuries to active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis, left and right knee degenerative arthritis, left shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, and sleep apnea.,Service connection is established based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms during service and continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis, left hip, limitation of adduction is dismissed. From August 24, 2019, the Veteran's appeals for ratings of 10 percent for limitation of flexion and extension are granted.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbosacral strain are granted an increased rating to 40 percent, effective July 20, 2014. The Veteran's bilateral foot arthritis is granted increased ratings to 30 percent each, effective August 20, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied because the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for hemorrhoids has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left hip, and right hip. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to have originated during service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, left knee osteoarthritis, and residuals of left wrist fracture are granted service connection. The Veteran is awarded a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss but not for the left knee or left wrist conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and bursitis (right shoulder) disability, as well as lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's left pinky finger status post fracture is denied an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of right knee retropatellar syndrome and left knee degenerative arthritis have been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear with knee joint osteoarthritis is a result of an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability. The case is being remanded.