Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal regarding the reduction of her disability rating for cervical strain with muscle tension and degenerative arthritis C5-6 from 30 percent to 20 percent, effective November 1, 2016. The Board dismissed this issue as a result.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been characterized by pain and degenerative changes, but the limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, extension limited to 10 degrees or more, favorable ankylosis of the knee at full extension or in slight flexion between 0 and 10 degrees, and recurrent subluxation or instability that is 'moderate' in nature have not been shown. As such, entitlement to increased ratings for his left knee disabilities has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied claims for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn. The Board finds that the reduction of his disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper, and restored the original 30 percent evaluation.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to additional evidence added after the September 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU, and they do not render him unemployable on an extraschedular basis for the rating period prior to September 29, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability and for entitlement to TDIU prior to November 4, 2015. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right wrist injury, residuals of a right ankle sprain prior to March 26, 2019, and osteoarthritis of the right knee status post arthroscopic surgery have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 50% rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee status post arthroscopic surgery effective from October 28, 2011 has been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to November 14, 2017 is granted. The remaining issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine condition and lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to July 23, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 18, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on left ankle sprain, right knee degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis have been dismissed due to failure to perfect an appeal. The Board has also determined that the issues of increased ratings for these conditions are not properly before it at this time as they were granted in a prior rating decision. The Veteran's claim for service connection for right side groin pain is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis with left sacroiliitis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee condition and his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for painful motion of the left and right knees were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation than 10 percent for either knee condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected as it was caused by his service-connected conditions, including chronic sinusitis, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, low back strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right knee degenerative joint disease, and tinnitus.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his right and left ankle disabilities. The issues of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a right eye injury, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and entitlement to increased ratings for knee and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further examination and rating due to the amount of time since his last examinations.