Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his shoulder disabilities has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its current severity. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the rating claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the right knee disability and TDIU claims, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing VA records.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is directly related to service, and his low back disorder is presumed due to chronicity and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on functional loss due to pain or other factors, as well as lack of ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, or lateral instability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that referral to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service is warranted for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the lack of a completed VA Form 21-8940, which includes his work history and reasons for unemployment. The Veteran should be provided another opportunity to complete this form.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the effective date being January 1, 2015.,Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 24, 2011 is granted. The effective date for TDIU is January 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's skeletal system, including service connection for various conditions. The claims are pending further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is a 100% rating for his service-connected back disability from May 7, 2007 to April 5, 2019. He also receives TDIU and aid and attendance special monthly compensation during this period.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including pain and instability, is rated at 30 percent effective September 10, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his current range of motion and functional limitations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), and left shoulder strain have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at the maximum 40 percent disability rating for his lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 29, 2013. Therefore, the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and left ear hearing loss due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee DJD and osteoarthritis are due to an injury during service, specifically ACDUTRA service in 1992. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury during combat.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tear as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability, finding that the right shoulder disability caused or aggravated the left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity neuropathy are granted service connection. The claim for sarcoidosis is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset and relationship to service-connected conditions.