Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate for adjudication purposes, and thus remands the case to obtain a new medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The examiner is asked to consider whether this condition is related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and rating determinations.

The Veteran's back condition has worsened since his last examination in 2018, and a new examination is required to determine the current severity of his back condition. The examiner must account for functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot plantar fasciitis and secondary service connection for bilateral pes planus and left foot degenerative arthritis due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spondylosis and denied service connection for a left ankle disorder. The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent, while his left ankle disorder was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and left knee disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current hip conditions are not related to his military service.,A TDIU claim prior to December 21, 2021, is moot due to the grant of a total (100 percent) rating for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD and right ankle osteoarthritis have been granted service connection. The appeals for the right and left knee disabilities were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's neck, bilateral upper extremities, and bilateral lower extremities disabilities are granted as direct service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board found that the reduction of the left knee disability rating from 30 percent to 20 percent was proper and denied restoration of the 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 1, 2017 to May 16, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and bilateral degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's appeal, including a new examination for his right knee disability and consideration of instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address the severity of the disability since September 28, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD and low back disability have been granted with a 100% rating, effective July 23, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, while his low back disability was service-connected due to its onset during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate assessments of functional loss during flare-ups in prior examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of his diagnoses and symptoms, as well as obtaining a new examination. The issue remains about determining if he should receive a compensable disability rating for his service-connected left knee meniscal tear.