Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The VA examiner found that his symptoms did not cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right 5th metatarsal amputation and right leg length discrepancy with right hip osteoarthritis, as both conditions are rated at their highest available rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities. The issues include higher extraschedular ratings, a separate compensable rating, and TDIU prior to April 4, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected foot disabilities alone do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU based solely on these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, is granted service connection because the evidence shows it is at least as likely as not related to active service.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral knees, finding that the severance decision was improper due to a clear and unmistakable error in the November 2019 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring a new medical opinion to determine the etiology of the lower back pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory, back, left knee, and right knee conditions due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to assess the current severity of this disability and determine if it warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms are not productive of considerable impairment of health, and a higher rating is denied.,Prior to August 19, 2016, there was no formal claim for an increased rating for back disability or left shoulder disability. The increase in severity of the disabilities was not factually ascertainable in the one year prior to August 19, 2016.,The Veteran's left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities have worsened since his last examination in 2016, and current examinations are needed before adjudicating these increased rating claims.,Lumbar spine disability: The matter is remanded for further evaluation.,Left shoulder disability: The matter is denied as the Veteran's claim was not received within one year of a prior decision.,Left knee instability: The matter is remanded for further evaluation.,Left knee degenerative arthritis manifested by limitation of extension: The matter is remanded for further evaluation.,Right knee degenerative arthritis: The matter is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right elbow degenerative arthritis are rated at 10 percent each, as the evidence does not show limitation of motion that warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, tinnitus, headaches, allergic rhinitis, and OSA are all granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss due to the dismissal of the appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various conditions and issues as they were found to be duplicative.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 26, 2010. Effective that date, the Veteran is granted an effective date for his TDIU and eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for pes cavus with bilateral painful callous formation and hammer toes on each foot, status-post hammer toe correction with degenerative arthritis was denied.,The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for residual scars right foot/toes and left foot/toes were both denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 3, 2022, for his residual scars right foot/toes was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluation of right knee chondromalacia was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to March 2018. The appeals for left knee condition, hypertension, lower back with bulging disc (now claimed as low back condition), sleep apnea, and right hip trochanteric bursitis, mild osteoarthritis were all denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, as well as a major depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Veteran's knee disabilities were rated at 10 percent each, while his shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of OSA and neck strain were denied. The ratings for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, slight instability of the left knee, and instability of the right knee have been granted with specific rating levels.