Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized arthralgia, including degenerative arthritis of hands, left knee strain, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and degenerative disc disease of the back. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim of service connection for lumbar osteoarthritis can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's back disability will need to be examined and a new opinion provided regarding whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The issue of GERD was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The right knee issues are being reviewed, including potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA periods.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury was denied. The rating for lumbar spine disability before September 16, 2016 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, as well as the rating for left knee disability between June 4, 2015 and September 16, 2016 were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but denied service connection for a back disability. The right knee disability is considered to have begun during active service and the Veteran's current diagnosis of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional relevant evidence being added to his claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis with patellar chondromalacia and left hip strain, but denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to failure to report for a scheduled examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is requested to attend new examinations for his knee, psychiatric disorders, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right knee conditions have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in April 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the right arm/shoulder and left arm/shoulder, as well as his claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and a 10 percent rating for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar strain condition and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability is remanded due to incomplete information and the need for updated VA medical records, SSA records, and an orthopedic examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but he seeks higher ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened and granted. Headaches are not service-connected, but right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis is secondary to his service-connected left knee conditions. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for left knee disabilities are set at May 2, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for a low back and left leg disability, finding no causal link to service. The right leg disability claim was also denied as there is no indication of current right leg disability related to service.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for right knee osteoarthritis prior to January 30, 2017.,A temporary total rating was granted following the Veteran's total knee replacement on January 30, 2017.,Since January 30, 2018, a 30 percent rating for right knee disability status-post total knee replacement is granted.,The decision does not specify an effective date for any of these ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's neurogenic bladder condition. The lumbar spine condition is denied as there is no nexus between service and current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his increased rating claim for right knee osteoarthritis, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for hearing loss or tinnitus meeting VA compensation criteria, and there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing these conditions. For right knee osteoarthritis, the Board granted a 10 percent rating effective from November 3, 2017, based on noncompensable limitation of motion due to arthritis.