Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left foot degenerative arthritis and increased the rating for left knee patellar tendonitis to 30 percent. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hip disability and back disability (secondary to left hip disability) due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being evaluated, along with his service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate, and thus remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's 40 percent rating for limited extension, right knee degenerative arthritis was reduced to a noncompensable (0%) rating effective July 1, 2021. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the prior 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and right hip osteoarthritis associated with bilateral pes planus, have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since June 5, 2014. The Board has granted an effective date of June 5, 2014, but no earlier.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee condition and its relationship to service or a service-connected disability.

The reduction in the disability rating for lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis from 20 percent to 10 percent effective July 1, 2020 was not proper. The Veteran's condition has not improved enough to warrant a lower rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right ankle disorder, including tendonitis, tenosynovitis, sprain, and osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis as secondary to his right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis and impingement syndrome, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left hip strain, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The VA will obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding these issues.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not result in limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, or limitation of extension to 15 degrees or more. The current ratings are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating for marked limitation of motion, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spondylosis, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his active service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to his service-connected left hip disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS is granted an effective date of January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and has remanded the issue of service connection for cervical arthritis and spinal stenosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated.

The Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his flexion was limited to 110 degrees and there were no findings of instability or other disabling effects. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.