Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the severity of his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU and Dependents' Education Assistance claims are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is at least as likely as not related to his active military service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, finding that his current diagnoses are related to his military service. The decision also finds that his left knee disorder is proximately due to his now service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for right shoulder disability was dismissed because it became final on January 20, 2022. The claims of left shoulder and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the denial of service connection for a right shoulder disability warrants readjudication. The AOJ is instructed to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current right shoulder, right hip, and bilateral knee disorders.

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.