Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current sleep apnea began during active service and grants this claim. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is dismissed.,The earlier effective date claim for service connection for a residual painful scar, status post appendectomy, is denied.

The Board has determined that there is not enough information to make a fully informed decision on the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip degenerative arthritis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand injury, degenerative arthritis of the hands, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's back condition, left shoulder impingement, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted or remanded. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remains unresolved.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine has not been established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of a minimum compensable rating for bilateral pes planus under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine, as well as left upper extremity radiculopathy (LUE), have been denied.,A total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been granted from December 7, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to inadequate examinations and lack of sufficient detail in the medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and GERD, but granted service connection for a heart disability. The decision did not address the claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of probative value in the private medical opinion provided by Dr. T.B., who opined that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis was related to his Navy service, including walking on steel decks and ladders over 27 years.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that continuity of symptomatology was not established and that the current right knee disorders were not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (a). The Board has referred the claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an initial determination on whether the Veteran’s service connected disabilities warrant an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a throat condition due to the lack of current diagnosis.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and arthritis of the right ring finger have been remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for residuals of fractured right hand and wrist, to include osteoarthritis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's right knee disorder to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU was denied. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective June 16, 2016. The preponderance of evidence does not support entitlement to TDIU on either a schedular or extraschedular basis prior to June 16, 2016.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted with a rating of 40 percent. Service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities are granted, but the case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of sciatica and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in or caused by service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an in-service injury, and his current conditions are more likely due to age-related wear and tear rather than service.

The Veteran's marginal employment and the severity of his nonservice-connected disabilities were not fully evaluated, necessitating further development.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to December 14, 2016 and at 20 percent from December 14, 2016. Radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are also rated at 20 percent from October 11, 2012 to March 22, 2017. The Veteran's radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent for each leg from March 22, 2017.