Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and patellofemoral syndrome, has been granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), has also been granted.,Service connection for the right knee disability is established based on direct evidence of a current condition, continuity of symptoms since service, and in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee conditions are remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the use of assistive devices.

The Veteran's mental disorder, claimed as PTSD and an unspecified anxiety disorder, was caused by service. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, finding that his current diagnosis of right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis was not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, insomnia, tobacco abuse, and substance abuse have been denied. The Veteran also has had his initial ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, left hip sprain with degenerative arthritis, residuals of left knee injury, status-post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medial meniscus repair with degenerative arthritis and scars, left knee instability, right knee sprain with degenerative joint disease, and residuals of left thumb injury denied.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40% evaluation from October 6, 2015 to November 5, 2018.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection and rating for his ankle, back, hip, and leg/knee disabilities. The case is being remanded to allow for additional examinations by an orthopedic specialist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to heavy lifting during his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and emphysema due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claims were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the appeals for ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which includes a service-connected fracture and arthritis, is rated at 30 percent from May 19, 2014. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his PTSD and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his bilateral knee disabilities, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to deficiencies in previous examinations and issues related to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right little finger and chronic right wrist sprain with avascular necrosis of carpal bones rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 23, 2016. The Board granted an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder was granted. The claims for service connection for right ankle and TDIU were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for general osteoarthritis of the joints and chronic pain, as well as his increased rating claims for TBI, erectile dysfunction, headache disorder, lumbosacral disc degeneration post decompression at L3-S1, right lower peroneal nerve compression neuropathy, PTSD with depression and anxiety, and TDIU have all been denied. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 19, 2014 for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted. The Veteran's claim for reopening his previously denied left ear hearing loss and secondary service connection for a left foot disability are both remanded.

The Veteran's right hip disability has been rated at 10 percent since March 2016, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's left hip disability has also been rated at 10 percent since March 2016, with the same denial of a higher rating.,The claim for TDIU was denied as the Veteran failed to complete the VA Form 21-8940 and did not provide sufficient information about his employment history.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated at 30 percent since January 15, 2020. The left knee tendinitis has also been rated at 30 percent since that date.