Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including pes planus with plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, left foot hallux valgus, and left plantar calcaneal spur, is currently rated at 50 percent prior to September 8, 2022, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter. The claim remains pending as the Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a 20 percent rating effective December 10, 2019. The right total knee replacement with residual of decreased range of motion and pain is also rated at a 20 percent rating from the same date. Service connection for back disability has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his thoracolumbar spine disability and related nerve radiculopathy issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including post-operative hardware and subchondral cystic change at the distal tibia, was evaluated as osteoarthritis. The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his right ankle disability but granted a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability since August 11, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, right hip and left hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.,Further development is needed to determine if there are any current diagnoses or symptoms of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started in service and has continued since then. The cervical spine, low back, and left hip disorders are remanded for additional development as the VA examiners' opinions did not consider pertinent service treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to June 7, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU from January 1, 2020 as he was found to be substantially gainfully employed after March 15, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 11, 2017. The Board found that the evidence showed he was unable to work due to his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and other conditions.

The Veteran's chest pain and left knee disabilities have been reopened, with service connection granted for both conditions.,Service connection has also been established for right elbow and left elbow disabilities, as well as obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's right hip disability, which includes a resurfacing arthroplasty, is rated at 50 percent since the effective date of his claim. The rating reflects moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left knee replacement and arthritis are not service-connected, but the Board has reopened his claim for a right knee condition.,Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's service-connected dental disorder, left hip degenerative arthritis (limited flexion), and right hip degenerative arthritis are denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for these conditions have also been denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since April 17, 2018, based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to work in any substantially gainful capacity.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, limited flexion, and meniscal impairment. The rating of 20 percent after April 27, 2022, for limited extension is also granted.

The Veteran's knee and spine conditions are remanded for further examination. His respiratory, heart, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities are also remanded due to the similar nature of the issues.