Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his back, hip, and right distal fibula disabilities due to inadequate testing during previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is being remanded due to a lack of consideration of his non-service-connected conditions, including osteoarthritis and tremor.

The Veteran's right knee disability, left and right ear hearing loss disabilities, and tinnitus are all granted as service-connected. The lumbar spine disability is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected left knee conditions, including osteoarthritis, status post-meniscus tear repair, and left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim is remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his hemochromatosis symptoms, including joint pain.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims regarding his service-connected vertebral fracture, L3-L4, with degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and assessment.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 100% effective August 6, 2018. The lumbar spasm and degenerative arthritis are rated at 40%. These ratings remain pending further action.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back pain, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's statements and private treatment records indicate she had injuries in service, but the VA examinations did not consider these factors or provide a rationale for their conclusions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent, the highest possible under Diagnostic Code 5200 for unfavorable ankylosis of scapulohumeral articulation. The rating for hypertension remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded two issues: the right shoulder disability and the low back pain. The claims are being returned for further examination to determine the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and residuals of right knee patellectomy are being remanded. The previous denial of these claims remains in effect.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection due to additional evidence being added to the record, including VA examinations of his cervical spine, thoracic spine, right knee, and left knee. The claims will be reviewed again with consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a VA addendum medical opinion regarding TMJ disorder and bruxism.

An effective date of April 1, 2011 but no earlier is granted for a 70 percent evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder with depressive disorder.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle osteoarthritis prior to December 15, 2011 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and left ankle chronic posterior tibialis tendinopathy and talar edema, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1 with degenerative arthritis of the spine, chronic right ankle sprain, and status post left arthroscopic meniscectomy with post-operative scarring due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided new VA examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology within one year after service and attributing the current condition to a motor vehicle accident several decades post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, upper extremity radiculopathy, and osteoarthritis. The issues include a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion prior to March 2, 2017, and from March 2, 2017; compensable ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy; and compensable ratings for right and left upper extremity disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include scars, osteoarthritis of the knee, degenerative disc disease at C4-C5 and C5-C6 levels, and neuritis of the infrapatellar cutaneous nerve.