Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's instability of the left knee is rated at 30 percent, and his degenerative arthritis and status post left medial meniscectomy are both rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the requisite schedular percentages for entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical examination evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his failure to provide necessary employment information and forms, resulting in the abandonment of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 27, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorder, sinus disability, nocturia, altered gait, right ear growth, left knee strain, gynecomastia, inguinal hernia, priapism, bilateral pulmonary embolism, parotid neoplasms, and hepatitis C have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder disorder and right shoulder reflex sympathetic dystrophy were denied as the evidence did not show manifestations consistent with severe incomplete paralysis or complete paralysis of the upper radicular group.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for tinea pedis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities and lack of a nexus between his claimed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's migraines/tension headaches are rated at 50 percent from January 10, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee, right knee, and left elbow were denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the left wrist was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, right foot degenerative arthritis, and hypertension. The Veteran's conditions are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective August 9, 2016. The Board has determined that a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee strain with osteoarthritis is warranted due to worsening since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ankle disability, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. The rating assigned is 60 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for disabilities of both feet, including degenerative arthritis. The remand is due to inadequate range of motion measurements in the previous VA examination.