Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right ankle and right metatarsal is granted as service-connected. The Board also remanded issues regarding his meningioma, pulmonary embolism, aspergilloma (claimed as brain fungus), and brain abscess.,For the remaining issues, a new VA opinion is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence established a current disability, continuity of symptomatology since service, and a nexus between the claimed in-service injury or disease and the current condition.,Service connection has been granted for obstructive sleep apnea as it is related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy of the lower left extremity sciatic nerve were denied as there was no evidence to support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, an eating disorder/obesity, a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. However, the claims for these conditions have been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,Service connection has been granted for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a determination on whether new and material evidence was submitted, as well as for additional examinations related to his bilateral knee disability and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the following issues: increased rating for thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatic nerve impingement of the right lower extremity associated with thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The RO must consider all evidence received since the last September 2016 statement of the case.

The Board has decided to remand two cases related to the Veteran's left lower extremity disabilities due to insufficient evidence from a previous examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for further adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequacies of a prior VA examination and for further evidentiary development.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent since February 9, 2010. The right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent from February 9, 2010 to September 20, 2017, with the ratings for both conditions being denied as more than 20 percent since September 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination for increased ratings of left knee osteoarthritis and right knee traumatic osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee OA, and right knee OA. The decision found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss. For left knee OA and right knee OA, the Board determined there was no nexus between the current disabilities and active duty service.

Service connection for osteoarthritis in the right knee is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment prior to October 27, 2015. The Board found that he is entitled to an extraschedular TDIU effective December 16, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee, left and right foot, and back disabilities have been granted. The claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the issues of higher initial ratings and remand for additional examinations are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right knee osteoarthritis and meniscus injury was denied. He is currently rated at 10 percent for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.