Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's back disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis, are being remanded for further examination to determine if they were aggravated by service. The issue of bilateral sciatica is also being remanded as it is secondary to the Veteran's back disability.

The appeal regarding service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and lumbosacral spine disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and development of records related to the Veteran's thoracic spine injury.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder and thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and levoscoliosis. Service connection is denied for a chronic rash.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for limitation of left and right knee flexion, as well as instability of the knees, have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for each issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are inextricably intertwined due to the need for additional development of his knee disabilities. The case is therefore being remanded for further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis were granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his left knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for right elbow injury, gout of the left and right great toe metatarsal-phalangeal joints, migraine headaches, and thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis as there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right upper extremity neuropathy, right elbow tendinitis, and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine are granted as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder DJD with tendinitis. The claims for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for right shoulder DJD with tendinitis and service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's cervical disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are granted service connection, with a rating of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and referral to the Director of Compensation Service. The issue of an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to July 10, 2014, on an extraschedular basis is also referred.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and entitlement to a TDIU prior to September 19, 2013.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. However, the issue remains remanded as a new VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 24, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether any current left knee diagnoses are related to service, including an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in February 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for rectovaginal fistula and remanded other claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervicalgia with osteoarthritis, stenosis and spondylosis (claimed as neck injury, to include pain) should be remanded due to insufficient evidence of a link between his current condition and service.