Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right shoulder rotator cuff tear with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, finding that no earlier effective date is warranted as the claim was submitted after April 22, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a right knee disability was denied, and the reduction of his disability rating from 10% to 0% effective January 4, 2016 is found improper. His 10% rating for painful limitation of flexion in his right knee is restored.,The Veteran's temporary total evaluation for hospitalization due to a right knee arthroplasty was denied, and the issue is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claims of a compensable rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ring finger and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The SSA records are also requested as they may be relevant.

The Board denied service connection for chronic left hand, right hand, and both feet disorders, attributing them to non-service-related causes.,No evidence of a chronic condition was found in the Veteran's service records.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is related to service and has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder, upper extremity neuropathy, foot disorder (right foot and right ankle disorders), right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as sleep disturbances), and migraine disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient audiological examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left and right knee disorders due to incomplete information in the record, particularly regarding the nature of the injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis disability has been rated at 10 percent since December 29, 2010. The Board found that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to functional loss in motion.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but the right shoulder and neck disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to the now-service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed low back disability and related conditions. The Veteran must provide additional medical evidence or obtain releases, and a new opinion is needed on the etiology of his low back disability and its relationship to other disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded it for further development. The claims for increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis has been granted.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.,Service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthrosis and osteoarthritis of the right knee, as well as instability of the right knee, are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination post-surgery.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury residuals, including rotator cuff tendinitis, are granted. The left shoulder disability and weight gain issues remain pending for further evaluation. The lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and neck injury residuals ratings are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, specifically the October 1982 X-ray showing vertebral sclerotic changes. The RO is instructed to obtain and associate the July 2018 cervical spine X-rays with the claims file and seek an addendum medical opinion from a suitably qualified clinician.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder, urinary frequency as secondary to bilateral hydroceles, and left knee disorder (including as secondary to right knee disability).,There is no current diagnosis of a right hip disorder. The Veteran's reported generalized right hip pain did not result in functional impairment.