Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for various shoulder and hip conditions due to his death.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The right knee and right ankle conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetic retinopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip condition, and right hip condition due to service-connected frostbite. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and arranging a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to new evidence and testimony.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10% and restored. The Veteran's osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine are currently rated at 10%. These ratings are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for lower back condition and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board has also dismissed the issues of entitlement to TDIU prior to October 26, 2017.

The Veteran's rating for lumbosacral disability was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective January 1, 2019. The appeal is granted in full as the reduction was not proper and the 40% rating is restored.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis and associated peripheral neuropathy warrant a higher disability rating than 20 percent. However, further development is needed to clarify if the 'Popeye deformity' is related to his service-connected shoulder condition or if it is a separate issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hip DJD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left leg disability, including his arthritis and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's right knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and extension, but the Board denied a higher rating as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left hips, as well as a left knee disability, due to his service-connected right knee disability. The claims are being reviewed by VA examiners to determine if these conditions are secondary to or aggravated by his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that there is no currently diagnosed left foot or left heel disorder to which service connection may attach, and thus denied the claim for degenerative arthritis of the left foot. The heart disability issue was remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee conditions and polyarthritis due to undiagnosed illness. The case must be returned for further development, including an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, lumbar DDD, compression fracture, mild bulging post-surgical L5-S1 discectomy surgery with radiculopathy, unspecified depressive disorder, and migraines and tension headaches have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for lumbar radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board does not find any evidence supporting a higher rating.

Service connection is granted for left knee osteoarthritis status post total knee arthroplasty. Service connection is remanded for right knee osteoarthritis status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no basis for a higher rating due to noncompensable limitation of motion.,The Veteran's TBI with cognitive impairment was initially rated at 70 percent and later reduced to 40 percent effective October 1, 2015. The Board found that the reduction was proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for his service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side or midway between side and shoulder level.