Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the temporary total disability rating is remanded due to a failure to develop his claim for the period prior to September 26, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with patella femoral tendonitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a more comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis may also be related to his left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, from August 1, 2018; prior to August 1, 2018; and for separate ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The remand is due to inadequate medical examinations used by the Board.

Your claim for service connection for meniscal tear and osteoarthritis of the right knee has been granted, so your appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, characterized as lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, had its onset in service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right tibia fracture residuals, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear are related to his active service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow and right wrist disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The claims for these disabilities have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating were denied. The Veteran was granted a one-month temporary total rating for convalescence, but his claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and scar status post spinal fusion remain denied.

The reduction of the rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with left S1 radiculopathy from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective July 1, 2018, was improper and the 40 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a rating of 30 percent and no higher, effective July 25, 2023. The right knee osteoarthritis and Osgood-Schlatter's disease are denied any increase in rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 20 percent for left knee disability with surgical removal of osteochondroma and left proximal fibula instability, and 10 percent for left knee meniscus tear with surgical removal of osteochondroma, left proximal fibula, and 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, residuals of osteochondroma removal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and intervertebral disc syndrome are currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions. His TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the knee claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left hip osteoarthritis (claimed as dysplasia) are being remanded due to a lack of medical records from 1986. The RO is instructed to seek these records, provide addendum opinions if obtained, and notify the Veteran of any further attempts.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for her service-connected right knee and hypothyroidism conditions, as well as her claims for service connection for a right hip sciatic neuritis condition and/or a right leg condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.