Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability. The RO is instructed to obtain a new addendum opinion from an orthopedic specialist that addresses all potentially favorable evidence, including continuity of symptoms post-service and a claim for service connection 2 months after separation.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left foot fracture are all rated at their maximum levels. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion equivalent to or more severe than flexion limited to 60 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees.,For his left knee instability, the Veteran's symptoms are best approximated as moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, warranting a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5257. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for instability, but the initial ratings for other conditions remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder. However, the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of prior formal or informal claims filed before April 24, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability because no new and material evidence was submitted to support his claim, which had previously been denied in 2012.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The claims for erectile dysfunction, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and other issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder and ankle disabilities, as the prior VA examinations did not provide all required information.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination regarding the Veteran's right knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC have been remanded due to the submission of a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) under the legacy system, which has now been accepted by the Board.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain with multilevel osteoarthritis and degenerative changes is rated at 20 percent prior to September 19, 2017, and 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated as 10 percent from November 14, 2017, to December 11, 2022, and 20 percent starting December 12, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will require an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left hip condition.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximate marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis left hip is granted as secondary to his service-connected limitation of flexion, right knee.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations regarding whether these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran had in-service back pain and current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the prior rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disorder, including thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis and spinal fusion. The VA examiner concluded that the preexisting lumbar spine condition identified on entry was not aggravated by any in-service illness or injury.