Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations, and his increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis will be referred to the RO for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and remanded other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for another VA examination and an opinion regarding functional limitations experienced by the Veteran as a result of his service-connected right shoulder strain with osteoarthritis between July 17, 2009, and January 30, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been added due to the impact it could have on the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current neck disability is related to his service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of left ankle osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected left foot fibromatosis.

The Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability, characterized as bilateral hip osteoarthritis, is granted. The Board has remanded the case for further action on the merits.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, left and right ankle osteoarthritis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot pes planus were denied. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent disability rating for his bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability with degenerative arthritis has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, finding that any in-service back pain was acute and resolved. The Board also found no evidence of arthritis manifesting within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right and left ankles is granted. Increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities are denied, but she has other issues on appeal including TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and temporary total evaluations need to be remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability is remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence and an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected mechanical low back pain and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claims for PTSD and TDIU. The rating for mechanical low back pain remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent from September 4, 2009 to June 6, 2013. The Board granted the specific rating and effective date requested by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to lack of functional loss or additional limitation.,A separate 10 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability based on painful motion.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability was denied. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional information regarding the Veteran's work and educational history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for effective dates prior to January 22, 2016 for service connection and increased ratings of his disabilities. The issues have been remanded due to a lack of VA treatment records from the relevant period.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent from January 20, 2009 to January 28, 2014 and at 10 percent from April 1, 2014 to May 12, 2017. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding these periods.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between the Veteran's current hip conditions and his military service.