Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar strain and scoliosis with degenerative arthritis and IVDS were found to not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 18, 2020.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS is dismissed. The Veteran's representative requested to withdraw representation, which was granted by the Board.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for insomnia has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence to support this claim. The earlier effective date claims are also remanded due to incomplete VA records and potential errors in record association.

The Board has remanded the issue of TDIU due to new VA clinical documentation received in October 2022. The Veteran declined review by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction and requested that this appeal be remanded for consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee total replacement. The right knee disability issue is remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 10 percent rating. The Board finds the evidence reasonably shows that his migraines have characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, corresponding to the criteria for at least a 10 percent rating under DC 8100. Other issues related to left hip disability, unspecified anxiety disorder and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was granted, with an effective date of August 1, 2011. The rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective October 23, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for further development due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding his left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, and associated radiculopathy due to inadequate examination findings and unclear onset dates.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied a higher rating as his condition does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 9, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 30, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and femoral nerve radiculopathy need to be re-evaluated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for new VA examinations to assess his left shoulder and wrist conditions, as well as consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has restored the Veteran's right knee disability rating from 10 percent to 20 percent effective October 30, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine DDD with radiculopathy to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are related to service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees is proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected bursitis of the right hip and spondyloarthritis changes in L4-L5.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with some issues being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted a 10% rating from December 13, 2011 to June 1, 2022 for limitation of extension.,A 10% rating was granted for the Veteran's left knee disability from June 10, 2019 onward due to limitation of extension.,The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities are not entitled to higher ratings based on flexion or other criteria.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain retrospective medical opinions regarding the Veteran's range of motion prior to August 16, 2019, and whether his disability is consistent with ankylosis or its functional equivalent.