Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or secondary to a service-connected left knee condition. The right foot issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in ratings beyond 40 percent since October 8, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with a previous remand directive regarding the Veteran's low back condition and its incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, right hip condition, left hip condition, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are being remanded to determine the current level of disability for hearing, address whether the lower back condition is related to service or proximately caused by hip conditions, and consider in-service use of NSAIDs for other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 13, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome and osteoarthritis of the knees have been granted increased ratings to 20 percent effective January 31, 2022.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected, and the case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of his left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and right hip degenerative arthritis are rated at 30 percent each, with the right knee ligament instability rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain addendum opinions addressing whether the Veteran's headache disorder, sleep disorder, and back disorder are related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and instability are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the mid-back, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 18, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine on a direct basis. However, it denied restoration of the PTSD rating from 70 to 30 percent effective January 1, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of January 29, 2020. The Board referred the issue of a TDIU rating prior to January 29, 2020 for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing that the right shoulder condition first manifested in service or within a year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, as secondary to service-connected DDD with spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and right knee osteoarthritis with total knee replacement. Additional addendum opinions are needed to address the Veteran's theory that changes in biomechanics due to other service-connected conditions have aggravated his left knee arthritis.