Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her left knee disabilities was denied. The rating of over 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis prior to January 8, 2020 is denied. A rating of 30 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis manifesting in favorable ankylosis as of January 8, 2020 is granted. A rating of 10 percent for left knee instability as of January 10, 2019 is granted. The claim for a higher rating for left knee instability as of January 8, 2020 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for higher ratings prior to October 21, 2020 and from October 21, 2020 onward.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board finds that the left knee disability has been productive of painful flexion, but noncompensable limitation of motion. A separate initial 10 percent rating is granted for painful extension from May 4, 2014. For instability, a 20 percent rating is granted from November 16, 2015 to August 29, 2022.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for his service-connected back disability is denied. The case has been remanded to obtain further information regarding the Veteran's employment status and circumstances prior to August 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's spinal disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and spinal stenosis. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis, finding that the condition originated during active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims and the impact of obesity on his knee conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and SMC due to housebound status, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence and missed VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling further medical evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and physical conditions like right shoulder osteoarthritis, prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU rating based on the combined effects of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to grant a higher rating and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination. For the period beginning April 2, 2019, the Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines as there was a full grant of benefits in a September 2022 rating decision.,The case is remanded for further development regarding an initial compensable disability rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's back disability was restored to a 20 percent rating effective November 8, 2016. The appeal for an increased rating and service connection for sleep impairment is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition, including his service connection claim and etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10% prior to August 31, 2022, and at 30% thereafter. The Veteran's instability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the temporary total evaluation for convalescence due to partial revision left knee surgery beyond October 31, 2017 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 30 percent for his left and right knee disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee from May 11, 2016 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain and spinal stenosis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status, for periods other than September 12, 2017, to November 1, 2017, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and a TDIU have been remanded due to procedural issues. The initial rating for unspecified depressive disorder prior to May 21, 2019 was denied, while the claim for major depressive disorder from that date has been granted at 70%. The lumbosacral strain claim was also denied prior to May 21, 2019 and the degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS claim was granted at 20% effective May 21, 2019. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity claims were both granted with a 20% rating from October 23, 2020. The TDIU claim prior to July 11, 2014 was denied.

The Veteran's IVDS with degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, as well as his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, are rated at 40 percent since May 16, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings more than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with low back strain, radiculopathy of femoral nerve in the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of femoral nerve in the left lower extremity.