Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, back, and neck disabilities have been denied. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left thumb fracture and remanded his claims for osteoarthritis of the right hip and cranial nerve damage secondary to maxillary surgery.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability, but denied the individual claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and back condition.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with related bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right, as it is not clear that the original decision was clearly erroneous.

The reduction in disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from 40 percent to 10 percent was improper and restored the original 40 percent rating. The increased disability rating claim for the same condition was denied.

The Veteran's increased evaluation for osteoarthritis of the left knee, status post meniscectomy is granted. The disability is currently rated at 10 percent and has been increased to 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, low back disability, and left knee disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected residuals of right hallux avulsion with toenail removal, degenerative arthritis of great toe and status post internal fixation surgery was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right tibia disability, and left tibia disability due to new evidence. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and potential exposure to ionizing radiation and/or herbicides. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions are aggravated by her service-connected thyroid cancer or its treatment.

The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis as there is no evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a disability of the feet. The Veteran's current knee and foot conditions are not related to in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine DDD and IVDS, left ankle OA, and OSA as secondary to cervical spine DDD and IVDS have been granted.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, bilateral knee disability, and lower back disability. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and prostate condition.

The Board has remanded three issues: 1) service connection for cervical spine osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected left ankle disorder, 2) service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected left ankle disorder, and 3) an initial rating more than 20 percent from June 4, 2009 to February 15, 2011 and from September 1, 2011 and continuing thereafter for the Veteran’s service-connected left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the TDIU claim is granted. The left elbow disability issue remains pending due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's cold injury residuals in both feet are rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria.,For the period from December 2, 2005 to April 13, 2014, the Veteran's hand disorders were rated at 10 percent. The Board found that they did not warrant a higher rating based on symptoms such as nail abnormalities and color changes.,From April 14, 2014 to May 21, 2017, the Veteran's left and right hand disorders have been rated at 30 percent due to additional symptoms including pain, numbness, cold sensitivity, hyperhidrosis, and nail abnormalities.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis as there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service.