Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016) standards, and to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the criteria set forth in VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee osteoarthritis as they were not adequately addressed in the previous August 2017 VA examination. The Veteran is to be provided a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his knee conditions, including range of motion loss due to pain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, and he is now entitled to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board also remanded his claims for service connection for right hip and left hip conditions due to gait.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for ischemic heart disease has been denied.,Service connection for atrial fibrillation secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for non-degenerative arthritis and fibromyalgia, both related to herbicide exposure, have been remanded for further review.,Further medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's non-degenerative arthritis and fibromyalgia.

The Board denied service connection for gout, chronic pain, left shoulder impingement syndrome and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, low back disability, neck disability, respiratory condition (shortness of breath), and chronic kidney disease. The evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and service.,The Board found that the Veteran's gout had no onset in service or was not related to service. For other conditions, there was insufficient evidence to establish their onset during service or relate them to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative disc disease with secondary degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to an injury incurred in active service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 5, 2015 for the initial grant of service connection for right knee instability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connected right knee strain with degenerative arthritis is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for her left knee condition is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for a right knee disability secondary to her service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection and rating for his knee, plantar fasciitis, low back condition, and ankle disorders due to inadequate examinations in prior VA evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder (other than right-hand ganglion cyst and secondary surgical scar) and a back disorder. The claim of service connection for a stomach disorder, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed skin disorders or back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and additional compensable ratings for his left quadriceps muscle injury, left knee scar, and parathyroid gland removal scars are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, upper and lower back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and tinnitus. The conditions are found to have begun during active service.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left wrist is granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The scars of the left wrist and palm are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip, right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to service. The VA examiner failed to address the Veteran's reports of recurrent shoulder and neck pain during service and continuity of symptomatology thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability rating for his right foot condition and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further consideration due to issues with the evaluation of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, specifically regarding whether the residuals from his total knee replacement and degenerative arthritis are severe enough to warrant a higher rating.