Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with herniated disc L4-5 was granted a 40% disability rating for the period from March 30, 2015 to May 10, 2022. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms and limitations more nearly approximated the criteria for a 40% rating during this period.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral talonavicular osteoarthritis, resection of the distal phalanx of the right great toe, left foot calluses, and resection of the metatarsal head and proximal phalanx of the left fifth toe have been denied. The issues related to these conditions are currently pending on remand.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee instability and left knee strain due to inadequate medical opinions regarding functional loss and severity of symptoms during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment evidence and because more than one hearing was held by separate Veterans Law Judges.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, right meniscus tear, and bilateral osteoarthritis. The VA is required to obtain updated treatment records and seek a new medical opinion from an orthopedic specialist.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are rated at 40 percent from August 27, 2018 to January 18, 2019. The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knees due to lack of proper range of motion measurements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis and headaches were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to August 10, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and his left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right foot, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and that any such condition is not related to his service-connected right heel stress fracture.

The Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted increased ratings, with the right lower extremity radiculopathy also receiving a separate rating. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board denied service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the bilateral hips and Degenerative Arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right knee osteochondroma and osteoarthritis prior to March 4, 2009 are remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back condition and left knee condition due to inadequate factual basis in previous VA opinions, and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding continued pain since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral ear disorder, bilateral hand disorder, and lip disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a current disability or a relationship to service.,There are no current diagnoses for the claimed conditions, and the medical opinions provided do not support a finding that any of these disabilities are related to service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral metatarsalgia and lateral column pain of both feet.,Service connection is granted for right hip osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and hip joint pain.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee disability, right hip disability, right knee osteoarthritis, lower back condition, and mood disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is therefore denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including ratings for chondromalacia patella of the right knee and degenerative changes/degenerative arthritis of the left/right knees. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and no higher.,The Veteran has multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities that do not meet the criteria for a separate 10% disability rating.