Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims related to his thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, shingles with post-herpetic neuralgia, and bilateral knee disability. The Board has remanded these claims for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected right ankle condition is denied. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as it pertains to herbicide exposure and secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The evaluation for his right thumb fracture with degenerative arthritis remains at 10 percent, but the evaluation for his right fifth metatarsal fracture with degenerative arthritis has been increased to 30 percent from March 25, 2022 onwards. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding exposure.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since November 7, 2017. The RO has denied increased ratings for the right knee instability prior to May 14, 2021 and from May 14, 2021, as well as for the left knee instability prior to December 5, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate discussion of the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's left knee symptoms, and for an examination and medical opinion addressing the Veteran's impairment without considering the ameliorating effects of meloxicam, ibuprofen, and hydrocortisone cream.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis, as the previous VA examiner's opinion did not address whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right hip disability.

The Veteran's increased ratings for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted. The issues of service connection for a respiratory disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU prior to April 4, 2022 remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment since November 17, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee has been granted. The claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability is denied, and the claim for service connection for his skin disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left wrist disability was denied as the evidence did not show any additional impairment warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical strain is rated at 20 percent, but a higher rating of 30 percent is granted.,TDIU from February 28, 2008, is granted.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis was granted a 40 percent rating from September 17, 2019 to July 25, 2022. The right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy were each granted a 20 percent rating effective August 27, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a lower back disability, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee instability, and right knee instability are being remanded.,An effective date prior to July 23, 2010, is denied for the grants of service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's cervical strain, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis (back disability), right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper and left upper extremity radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and knee limitations are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted at a 10 percent rating effective January 11, 2020. The left ankle disability and cervical spine condition are both remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left hip disability and secondary service connection to his back disability. The evidence did not establish that the current left hip condition was incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is there sufficient medical nexus linking it to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at a separate 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. A temporary total rating for a total right knee replacement was granted effective December 16, 2013. The Veteran also received a 30 percent disability rating following a period of temporary total rating due to convalescence for his right knee post-traumatic osteoarthritis prior to July 11, 2019.,The appeal is remanded as the issues regarding entitlement to increased ratings and service connection are not fully addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning and lack of examination for determining whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to address his claims of service connection for TBI, increased ratings for left ankle and shoulder disabilities. The current evidence does not provide sufficient information to determine if these conditions are related to service.