Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with the highest ratings for her bilateral knee limitations of extension. The TDIU has also been granted effective October 4, 2021.

Effective March 29, 2013, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for right foot hammertoes and left foot hammertoes.,Effective January 7, 2013, the Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for painful scars of the right and left feet. The Veteran's service-connected surgical scars were denied in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip osteoarthritis and right knee strain were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the examination report and lack of information regarding flare-ups. The Veteran's left ankle condition, including leg shortening and neurological residuals, will need to be evaluated again.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis and anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal tear have been rated based on their respective conditions. The rating for the degenerative arthritis has been granted at a 30 percent level, while the instability of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal tears has been granted at a 10 percent level.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right and left hip osteoarthritis have been denied as the evidence does not show that his symptoms warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated medical records and clarification of the Veteran's limitations during a flare-up.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and a right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is presumed to have current disabilities, but his service connection claims are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis, thoracic and lumbar spine.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for lung disorder due to new evidence submitted. The low back condition claim is remanded as there are conflicting opinions and additional medical records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. A retrospective opinion is needed to determine the severity of these conditions throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic sinusitis, psychiatric disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus, do not render him incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 3, 2017. The Board found that the evidence does not support an exceptional situation preventing gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's insomnia is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Both hip disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each. The evidence does not support an increase in these ratings as there is no indication of ankylosis or other severe impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, as well as patella tendonitis with history of Osgood-Schlatter disease of the right knee, are each rated at 20 percent disabling. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left foot disability, including hammer toes, pes planus, degenerative arthritis of the foot, plantar fasciitis, and calcaneal heel spur, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected postoperative chondrosarcoma, right femur with metallic prosthesis of proximal shaft and head.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for a determination on entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to November 19, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and bilateral tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The RO assigned a temporary total evaluation based on surgical treatments necessitating convalescence for the right and left knees, effective from December 8, 2016, to February 1, 2017, and October 1, 2019, respectively. He was also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss in June 2020.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left hip limitation of rotation and adduction from March 2, 2020 is granted. The initial compensable rating for his service-connected left hip limitation of flexion is denied.