Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's right long finger osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis associated with internal derangement are each rated at 10%. The Veteran is denied a higher rating for these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right wrist degenerative arthritis with limited motion, status post lunate replacement and a TDIU prior to May 17, 2019 need further development. The case is being sent back to the agency of jurisdiction for additional evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis in both the left and right hips, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, hip, and left leg neuropathy disabilities due to their secondary nature to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran needs to provide Workers' Compensation records and undergo VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee was denied. The Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted as there were no claims filed prior to April 8, 2014. For stomach cancer, the claim was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection for various conditions and increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and examination, as well as to address issues related to her service-connected disabilities and any newly diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,Service connection for a heart condition is denied.,Service connection for a left hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a right hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a lower back condition is denied.,Service connection for skin issues is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as sleep issues) is denied.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition, concluding that there is no clear and convincing evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination and need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including increased ratings for various conditions and service connection for additional disabilities. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the current severity of his existing conditions and whether he is entitled to service connection for new disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and for a TDIU due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for posterior tibial tendonitis of the left and right ankles, as well as limitation of motion of the left ankle. Additional development is needed to address pronation symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, lumbar stenosis and bilateral radiculopathy. The character of the Veteran’s discharge from March 10, 1948 to October 27, 1951 was determined to be honorable, thus not constituting a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis and a left leg disorder, including left knee instability and radiculopathy, are granted. The left leg disorders are secondary to his newly service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's PTSD, left shoulder disability, left knee degenerative arthritis, epidermal cyst, and lichen simplex chronicus due to potential worsening of symptoms. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and incomplete evaluations. The issues of increased ratings for radiculopathy of the RLE, LLE, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The appeals for other conditions are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.