Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of flexion and extension, is rated at 20 percent effective October 20, 2015.,A separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability of the right knee is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder and has determined that she is entitled to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board also found that she is entitled to service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which was secondary to her now service-connected lumbar disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left shoulder disability was rated at 20% since November 18, 2005, but the Board found no evidence of motion limited to 25 degrees from side, which would warrant a higher rating. For the lumbar spine disability, the Veteran's condition did not meet the schedular criteria for an increased rating prior to January 29, 2021, and after that date, it was also denied. The TDIU claim was denied as there was no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities during the relevant period.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to June 1, 2020, and a higher rating of greater than 40 percent thereafter was denied.,A separate 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was granted. A higher rating of greater than 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right foot arthritis, left foot arthritis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The cases are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's claimed conditions as his claims were previously denied based on lack of a nexus to service.

All appeals for increased ratings and effective dates are dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and post-operative left shoulder arthroplasty with rotator cuff repair are granted. The appeals for higher ratings for asthma, a disability of the right little finger, and a disability of the left fourth toe are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disabilities due to outdated VA examinations and a need for new evaluations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding increased ratings and effective dates for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine, GERD, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, vitiligo, tinnitus, anal fissures, a jaw disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of right knee instability and right knee osteoarthritis/degenerative arthritis with iliotibial band syndrome, finding that the correct facts were before them and no CUE was established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss in either ear for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis have also been denied, as the evidence does not show that his symptoms are more limiting than contemplated by the current 20% ratings.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has been remanded due to inadequate notice and development.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The claims are being returned for further development to obtain necessary medical records and ensure proper consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination to determine if his degenerative arthritis of the spine is related to service, considering his lay statements and December 1996 VA treatment records.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis has been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis with painful flexion and limited extension, as well as his right knee instability, was partially granted. The Veteran received an increased 30 percent rating for the condition from January 25, 2023, but his claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for painful flexion and prior to that date were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis and radiculopathy, left lower extremity due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are restored from August 3, 2023, but a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative spondylosis, L5-S1, remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for various conditions.,Issues related to the rating of disabilities are also addressed in this decision.