Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The Veteran now receives a disability rating of 50 percent for each affected joint from September 9, 2020.

Your claim for service connection for a right foot disorder, including degenerative arthritis, has been fully granted in the September 2021 rating decision. As this is a full grant of benefit sought on appeal, your case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to a failure to obtain a VA examination addressing the claim on a direct incurrence basis.

The Veteran's cervical spine and right wrist disorders are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine if they were incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's right long finger and index finger disabilities have been rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5229, which is the maximum rating provided for these conditions. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,On remand, the VA examiner should clarify whether the Veteran has additional neck disabilities other than 'cramp in neck associated with scar status post excision of gland' and provide an opinion as to their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current knee disorders are related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for left shoulder, hand, hip, leg, and foot disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical disability. The claim for urinary incontinence is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the hands, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and cervical spine spondylosis (neck disability) have been granted higher initial ratings as of January 1, 2012.

The Board determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, left hip limitation of flexion, left hip limitation of adduction, left hip limitation of extension, and cervical strain with spondylosis, are sufficient to grant a 100 percent combined rating. However, the Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to TDIU because his disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and remanded several other issues due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings and TDIU due to inadequate discussion of additional limitations during flare-ups in the October 2018 VA examination reports. The Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded for new medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's daughter, P., is recognized as a helpless child due to her disabilities and inability to support herself prior to the age of 18. The claim was reopened based on new evidence showing she became permanently incapable of self-support before reaching the age of 18.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee arthritis disability status post total arthroplasty as secondary to his service-connected left hip condition.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU prior to October 18, 2021 have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these issues as the appeal is no longer valid.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, effective May 31, 1967. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis and spinal fusion is found to be related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding medical records and a need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and degenerative arthritis are found to have originated during active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher disability ratings for bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis with left heel spur (including osteoarthritis), and tinnitus before the decision was finalized.