Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an eye disorder due to the presence of multiple current diagnoses.,Other issues related to knee and ankle rheumatoid arthritis have also been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate examination findings regarding flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted an initial rating of 50 percent for post-traumatic headaches. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the right ankle is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis and right metatarsalgia and hallux valgus, as well as an unspecified anxiety disorder, need to be remanded due to a lack of recent medical evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to December 1, 2014 was denied. The evidence did not show that his forward flexion was limited to 60 degrees or less or his combined range of motion was limited to 120 degrees or less.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis. The claim will be reviewed again with new medical examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for evaluations of his service-connected right ring finger status post fracture with scar and hand osteoarthritis, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and muscle contraction headaches need to be remanded due to the lack of recent medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of onset or aggravation during service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's right fourth toe arthroplasty disability has been rated based on the Amputation Rule and no higher rating can be assigned.,Service connection for hypertension is granted, but a compensable rating cannot be assigned due to pre-existing conditions.,A VA eye examination will be scheduled to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's left eye pterygium.

The Veteran's pinched nerve, associated with degenerative arthritis and disc disorder (claimed as spinal stenosis), was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the disability is not related to his service due to lack of credible evidence of continuity.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and rating for right hip degenerative arthritis, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence demonstrating the presence or onset of the claimed conditions prior to February 16, 2016.,An effective date prior to February 16, 2016, was not granted as there is no indication that radiculopathy or a right knee disorder existed before this date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, right clavicle disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and right wrist CTS. Service connection for a neck injury and a bilateral leg disability is also granted.

Service connection for a left knee disability has been granted.,Secondary service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome has been granted as it is related to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 23, 2015, for service connection of various shoulder and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The Board found that her symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.