Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to procedural errors in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected post traumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis of both knees due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address knee instability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathies have been withdrawn. The claims for hypertension, low back disability (lumbar degenerative arthritis), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, and respiratory condition have all been granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder condition, right knee condition, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are being remanded. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher. His PTSD claim remains denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for right knee instability and left knee instability, resolving the Veteran's appeal on these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist. The Board needs clarification on the extent of functional impairment caused by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right hip disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is also established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records.,The Board is unable to proceed with these matters until all necessary steps have been taken to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), and right knee arthritis. The conditions are deemed related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left hip disabilities have been denied as the medical evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his conditions prior to December 12, 2016, or in excess of 30 percent after that date. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate explanation of the duty to assist and potential overlap between service-connected right elbow disability and non-service-connected CIDP and IBM.

The Veteran's left hip, right knee, and left knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical spine disorder. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and herniated disc are due to an in-service motor vehicle accident. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability (to include as secondary to right knee), and low back condition (to include as secondary to right knee) due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and her military service.

For the period prior to September 22, 2020, service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. For the period from November 18, 2020, a 30 percent rating for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine were granted.,For the period prior to September 22, 2020, entitlement to TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back, knees, and neck conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU from November 5, 2015.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are rated under Diagnostic Code 5019 due to limitation of motion.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for scars associated with left knee disability has been denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior VA examination report.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities.