Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and a need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and granted it, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause or aggravate his current bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Board has remanded the issues of LUE radiculopathy and TDIU for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle arthritis (gout), left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision was based on a lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and a TBI, finding no increase in severity of pre-existing pes planus during service and insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and arthritis of the right arm are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's right foot disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition, as the previous examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, resulting in a combined rating of 20 percent. The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the right and left feet as their symptoms do not meet the criteria for moderately severe foot injuries.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent for the entire initial rating period, effective April 17, 2008. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have begun during his active duty service.,The Veteran is determined to be unemployable due to his service-connected back and left foot disabilities, effective March 26, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims are granted for osteoarthritis of the shoulders, knees, OSA, hypertension, CHF, diabetes, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions remain under review.

The Veteran's use of her VA-issued right and left knee braces for her service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis is causing wear or tearing of her clothing, which qualifies her for a clothing allowance in 2016.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted a 20 percent rating, as it met the criteria for forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lipoma of the right knee has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability, claimed as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right elbow impairment, limitation of extension, and limitation of flexion with degenerative arthritis are currently rated as 10 percent for each condition. The Board has found that the Veteran’s flexion is more nearly approximating a 20 percent rating from November 28, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's back disability and any associated radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and right hip osteoarthritis. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the right hip osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine if they are related to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active service.