Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD and right knee disability.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis and soft tissue mass with degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing loss of use of the foot. The left knee disability remains under consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the highest possible level (10%) and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA disability criteria.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition or functional impairment.,Service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and right hip osteoarthritis is denied because the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence showing these conditions were incurred during service.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right ankle disability is denied as there is no current evidence of such conditions or functional impairment.,Service connection for tubal ligation is denied because the procedure was voluntary and not due to disease or injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in the previous VA examination and a need for additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left wrist status post-surgery, to include malalignment and left wrist osteoarthritis distal radius ulnar joint with ulnar minus 6 mm, was denied as the evidence did not show that VA treatment caused his additional disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury, was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease; a bilateral hip disorder, diagnosed as bilateral hip osteoarthritis; and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The right knee disability issue is being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right knee condition is being remanded for a determination on whether it was aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and if so, the degree of aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's knee conditions and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee joint instability.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than June 10, 2005 for the grant of service connection for his back condition and associated scars were denied.,Claims for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis also had their effective dates denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee pain and osteoarthritis, as well as inguinal pain, due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left foot disability, including arthritis with bunions and hammer toes, is granted as service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knee, back disability, and bilateral foot disability due to a lack of a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to December 16, 2015 and on and thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date earlier than August 11, 2006, for the grant of a TDIU due to lack of evidence showing unemployability prior to that date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, prostate cancer, and prostatitis are all granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot degenerative arthritis with corns and calluses due to a lack of recent VA examination, and requests that the Veteran provide information about any additional treatment providers who may have provided relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted.