Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and secondary service connection for his right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records from his in-service surgery. The Board requests that these records be obtained and an addendum opinion be provided by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities have been reopened, but the Board has denied both claims due to a lack of evidence showing in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, finding that the fall and resulting injury to the right knee was a result of the Veteran's vertigo rather than the service-connected right ankle giving way.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for instability since November 4, 2011. The rating was granted as he meets the criteria for moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right hand finger disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent lay evidence of current disabilities that had their onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder, right knee disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar strain, and right hand disability, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since April 16, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and a TDIU are remanded due to insufficient examination findings. The claim for an initial rating is remanded because the May 2022 VA examination report does not comply with the requirements laid out in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016). The TDIU claim is remanded due to its inextricability from the initial rating claim.

The Veteran's left hip ganglion cyst is granted service connection. The claim for a left hip disability other than the ganglion cyst, related to his service-connected left knee disabilities, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for phlebitis, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and claudication, chronic venous insufficiency due to unclear evidence regarding their existence at the time of filing or during the pendency of his claim. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less, which is required for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient development.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee, status-post total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the hands as there is no active appeal before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increased rating beyond 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for his lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to January 28, 2011, for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for left foot, bilateral eye, and left shoulder disorders are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records. The head injury claim is not related to service.