Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to April 11, 2019. Effective April 11, 2019, the Veteran is entitled to TDIU based solely on his left ankle disability and SMC for aid and attendance due to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, lichenoid dermatitis, bilateral cataracts, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot and left elbow disabilities, but the issues of service connection for other conditions remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions have been rated at 10 percent each, and the Board is remanding for a new examination to assess any worsening of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings for his left knee disabilities due to new evidence received after the last VA examination in October 2017, which included a total left knee arthroplasty. The Veteran is scheduled for further examinations to determine current severity of his conditions.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis with IVDS is rated at 20 percent from September 5, 2017 to September 8, 2021 and 40 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending as the evidence does not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the General Rating Formula or IVDS Formula.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbosacral strain, finding that there was no evidence showing a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's assertions about his back pain during service were not supported by contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran is granted total disability ratings for all service-connected disabilities in combination prior to January 19, 2022 and a total rating based solely on his acquired psychiatric disorder from that date. He also receives SMC at the housebound rate starting from January 19, 2022.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's dermatitis, urticaria, nonlinear deep scar secondary to circumcision surgery, painful scar secondary to circumcision surgery, and degenerative arthritis of the right elbow claims due to potential systemic therapy affecting his skin conditions. These issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected back condition and for entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected conditions. The remand is necessary because additional development, including an examination of the Veteran's back condition, is required.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus and degenerative arthritis should be rated higher than 10 percent prior to April 12, 2021, and higher than 50 percent since. However, due to incomplete records from Dr. Langford, the claim is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right hand and back conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left foot disability, finding that it is due to an in-service injury and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee meniscal tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral hearing loss. However, due to the complexity of these cases, additional development is required as they are currently being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion and instability due to inadequate reasons or bases in the previous decisions, requiring additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted TDIU effective August 27, 2020. However, the Veteran also met the schedular requirements for TDIU on September 17, 2014 to May 13, 2015. The matter is REMANDED for further development and adjudication.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as there is no evidence of instability or ankylosis.