Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, specifically whether they are related to service. The Veteran was awarded a parachutist badge and had multiple parachute jumps during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further investigation into the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his knee and back disabilities, as well as a vocational counselor opinion regarding his TDIU claim. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee degenerative arthritis with shin splints have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

Service connection is granted for right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Service connection is remanded for sinusitis and headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for lower back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and instability have been granted, with a temporary 100% rating following the TKR surgery. The denial of a higher rating for patellar subluxation is noted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination findings and lack of treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of service connection for left knee instability was denied.,The Veteran's request for an effective date prior to August 25, 2014 for the grants of service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and instability was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between her current condition and her in-service injury. The Board also noted that arthritis did not manifest within one year following discharge.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been dismissed, and the Board has remanded the cases to the AOJ for issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a dental condition is denied. The Board also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected left knee traumatic arthritis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected left shoulder degenerative osteoarthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and lumbar spine disability have been remanded due to the need for further administrative review.,No effective date has been assigned as the issues are still under consideration.

The Veteran's left ankle osteoarthritis is rated at 20 percent from March 4, 2016 and continuing thereafter. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete VA examination reports. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining additional VA examinations.