Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his disability rating was reduced to 90 percent from May 1, 2022. He does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on a single disability rated at 40% or more and sufficient additional disabilities to bring the combined overall rating to 70% or more.

The Veteran's left hip disability, characterized by strain and osteoarthritis, does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation based on limitation of flexion or impairment of the thigh.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) was granted service connection secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease. The effective date for this grant is November 27, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as breathing issues), to include as secondary to right knee disability, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, which is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, sciatic radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, chronic left ankle sprain, left knee strain, tinnitus, and left hand eczema with resolved cellulitis, do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee osteoarthritis, tinnitus, and right hip disability, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from August 5, 2011 to August 23, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, diagnosed lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis. The claims for right lower extremity radiculopathy and pelvic disability were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder ACL joint osteoarthritis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's lay accounts of in-service injuries are credible and outweigh the negative opinions from VA clinicians.

The Veteran's rating for bilateral pes planus was reduced from 50% to 10%, and his rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was restored from 20% to 40%. The appeals were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected, but his back disorder related to heavy lifting and pain during service has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his increased rating for right shoulder disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate examination and consideration of all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's service records and medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but has remanded the claim of an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, is related to service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.