Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for cervical strain and IVDS, right shoulder strain, migraines, and right ankle sprain were granted with effective dates of April 27, 2015.,However, the Board has determined that these effective dates are not appropriate due to various procedural issues.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and arm disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and active service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a rating of 10 percent for lateral instability, and separate ratings of 20 and 40 percent were granted for limitation of flexion and extension, respectively, from September 6, 2018 onwards. The claim for higher ratings prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for his knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of medical records and requests that the Veteran provide authorization for VA to obtain relevant treatment records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance that the Veteran's low back condition was caused by his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The claim for an effective date earlier than April 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis (flexion) as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis (OA) is denied.,An earlier effective date of April 15, 2014 for service connection for tinnitus and erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Veteran's back condition, osteoarthritis of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period. The disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for Parkinsonism disease is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye disability was withdrawn, and his increased rating claims were dismissed due to lack of evidence supporting higher ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability, left and right sacroiliac joint disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and tuberculosis.

The Veteran's claim for left knee disability was granted with an effective date of January 13, 1983. From October 24, 2013 to December 17, 2014, the Veteran received a rating of 20 percent for his left knee cartilage condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his back disability, brain syndrome, knee condition, and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder (diagnosed as osteoarthritis) and right eye disorder are found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back conditions and their relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various diagnosed back disabilities, including scoliosis, degenerative arthritis, mechanical back pain, lumbar spondylosis, and lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine end plate sclerosis with degenerative arthritis and reversed lordosis is currently rated at 40 percent since September 1, 2016. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a higher rating as there was no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.,The Board also denied the claim for TDIU as the Veteran did not have his employment precluded by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and has determined that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran's current condition is considered equivalent to a previously denied claim.