Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot injury, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The appeal seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and TDIU has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Board remanded the claims for service connection for lower back injury, COPD, and OSA due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty or qualifying periods of inactive duty training.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted an increased rating to 40 percent, effective from November 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that it is not related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for post traumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis of both knees due to inadequate examination and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and remanded the TDIU claim prior to January 22, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and major depressive disorder have been dismissed as the May 2019 VA Form 10182 was not a valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) filed prior to the issuance of rating decisions in August and October 2019.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder bursitis with arthoplasty for rotator cuff repair with arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis have been dismissed as the May 2019 VA Form 10182 was not a valid NOD filed prior to the issuance of rating decisions in August and October 2019.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is not rated higher than the current 10 percent due to lack of limitation of motion or instability.,Service connection for a lower back condition was denied as there is no evidence that it began during service and is not aggravated by a service-connected disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board has remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals, right shoulder, AC joint separation due to lack of compliance with VA examination requirements. The Veteran's current disability picture does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology and concluding that his current condition is not related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's right fifth finger disability, characterized by flexion deformity and degenerative arthritis, is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show marked limitation of motion or ankylosis, and thus denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete or unclear information.,Service connection for insomnia is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the L4-L5 spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for his shoulder and knee conditions, or service connection for his hip and spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, and will consider them again after obtaining VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied. The Board found no evidence linking the claimed disabilities to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis status post total arthroplasty, finding that his condition began during his active duty service.

The Veteran's left-hand arthritis is a separate and distinct disability from his service-connected left finger amputations, warranting a separate compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing medical records, particularly those from February 2015.