Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and he is now rated at 50% for his unspecified trauma stressor-related disorder.,Service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis have also been remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now moot.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for additional information about the severity of the Veteran's back disability, including during flare-ups.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have worsened, and the Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine their current severity. The RO should also attempt to obtain any outstanding treatment records and schedule an examination for this purpose.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome with bursitis and degenerative arthritis has not been manifested by limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, so his current 20% rating for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of left knee is granted, as are his claims for secondary service connection for right knee and lumbosacral strain disabilities. The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim was denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hip, foot scars, and back disabilities due to new evidence of worsening symptoms. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations for his bilateral hips, hypertension, right foot scars, and thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and tinnitus, finding that the current conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis. The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals, left femur fracture with left hip bursitis is remanded. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left pinky finger disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition.,A rating of 10 percent, but no higher, has been granted for the Veteran's residuals of a right index finger fracture.

The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome and osteoarthritis of the right knee have not met the criteria for a higher evaluation since March 7, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis and bursitis, finding that there was no nexus between his current disability and his in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence did not support a link.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right leg nerve disorder, which may be related to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disability, concluding that there was no evidence of chronic lumbar spine arthritis in service or within a presumptive period. The preponderance of evidence did not support a causal relationship between current thoracolumbar spine diagnoses and back problems during active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right leg disability and residuals of a right hand laceration due to an inaccurate factual premise in the June 2018 VA examiner's opinion. A new VA medical opinion is required considering all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both hands due to procedural issues and need for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a comminuted right scapula fracture and glenohumeral dislocation with degenerative changes, is rated at 20 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity and frequency of flare-ups, which could affect the range of motion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.