Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's back condition, including whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and extraschedular considerations have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, calcified nodules in the left lung, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension. The reasons given were lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to address flare-ups of his right hip disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and granted increased ratings for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The claim for secondary service connection for a low back disability was remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The issues on appeal include service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy, radiculopathy, and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for right shoulder and low back disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 20% for the period prior to June 11, 2014 and more than 40% thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and medial meniscus tear, bilateral tinnitus, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination regarding his thoracolumbar spine disability, specifically addressing flare-ups and functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss and additional examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, osteoarthritis of the lower back and bilateral hips, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of sufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The cases will be rescheduled for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for spinal arthritis to include as secondary to left shoulder DJD is denied. The Veteran's increased rating claims for left shoulder DJD and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis are also denied. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is denied as it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of active service and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no basis for granting a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied increased ratings for DJD with reduced flexion of the left knee and instability of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left shoulder, lumbar spine, and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, a right bicep/arm condition, and high blood pressure have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection has not been granted for migraine headaches as there is no direct or secondary evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia and osteoarthritis post ACL repair, was rated at 20 percent prior to March 15, 2016. The appeal is denied for a higher rating.