Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection. The appeal is also remanded for further examination regarding special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance/housebound.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee ACL tears with osteoarthritis and instability due to inadequate examination, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for left knee partial removal of the medial meniscus, in excess of 20 percent for right knee meniscus tear and in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition and mood disorder due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination, lack of discussion on a second motor vehicle accident, and need for updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is granted to grant an initial rating of 20 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis with IVDS with strain, and separate initial ratings of 20 percent each for left knee osteoarthritis with subluxation and right knee osteoarthritis with subluxation. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for limitation of motion of the right knee is denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for sciatica of the right lower extremity is also denied. The Board has remanded his claims for TDIU and increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, but dismissed the appeal of service connection for a left knee disorder due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The right hip osteoarthritis claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and right leg disorder have been reopened. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support finding that his current right leg disorder was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional information regarding his left knee disability, as well as an evaluation of whether his right knee condition is aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his appeals regarding service connection for various conditions. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his right knee menisci degeneration, left knee osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and right hip strain due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 20% disability rating for degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine with scoliosis, finding that the reduction from 20% to 10% was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for right hip post-fracture myositis ossificans with degenerative arthritis and right hip scarring as secondary to status-post fracture right femur is being remanded due to the need for further development.,Specifically, additional medical evidence may be needed to determine if a higher rating can be assigned based on current functional impairment of the hips.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service. The evidence did not show any specific injury in service or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical arthritis and left cervical motor radiculopathy are granted. The claim for an increased rating for depression is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder and left knee osteoarthritis have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a December 2018 written correspondence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an injury to the neck and back due to new evidence. The lung cancer rating is maintained at 30 percent, effective November 1, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for further medical evaluation regarding the Veteran's bilateral hand disability, including osteoarthritis and cheiroarthropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis with labral tear, finding that it is due to his in-service injury. The condition meets the criteria for service connection as a direct result of service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative joint disease, arthritis in the left foot, osteoarthritis in the right knee, osteoarthritis in the left knee, osteoarthritis in the right hip, and osteoarthritis in the left hip. The decision was based on a finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine strain is reopened, and the issue of whether his current degenerative arthritis with strain of lumbar spine is secondary to his right knee patellofemoral arthritis is remanded.