Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including right and left foot plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis, is rated at 20 percent since April 3, 2004.,Since November 3, 2016, the Veteran’s right foot plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis has been rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left wrist condition and thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with osteoarthritis. The case is remanded due to issues remaining unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for sinusitis, headaches, and sleep apnea; an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendonitis with tendinosis; an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD; and an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 3, 2016 and in excess of 20 percent since then for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically instability and range of motion/painful motion, are being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and for a new VA examination.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of special monthly pension and granted service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, anxiety disorder, and remanded issues regarding a lumbar spine disability and a right eye disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient range of motion measurements and functional impact assessments in the December 2014 VA examination report. A new VA knee examination is required.

The Veteran's right foot disability is currently rated as 10 percent for metatarsalgia and degenerative arthritis with calcaneal spur, but no higher. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.,Prior to November 20, 2013, the Veteran’s hypertension was not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly over 160.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip strain and arthritis, left ankle degenerative joint disease, and right knee osteoarthritis have been granted with effective dates of June 21, 2018. The Veteran is also awarded a separate disability rating of 20 percent for impairment of the right thigh function.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's right knee, hip disabilities, and sciatic nerve pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional evaluations of the Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any knee, shoulder, wrist, hand, foot, sinusitis, and rhinitis conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip strain and osteoarthritis due to insufficient medical evidence addressing direct service connection, secondary service connection (to his service-connected pes planus), and aggravation.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at a maximum of 30 percent, effective from July 25, 2018 to October 17, 2018.,The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee is rated at a maximum of 20 percent, effective from July 25, 2018 to October 17, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder conditions was granted with an effective date of October 9, 2018.

The Board dismissed the service connection claims for left and right hip osteoarthritis, status post hip replacement due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, CTS of the Right Upper Extremity, and CTS of the Left Upper Extremity. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be related to his active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for a left knee disability and right knee strain. The Board found that there is no evidence of any chronic conditions or symptoms during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, as well as the claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder conditions are being reviewed again due to additional evidence submitted by him.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition has been reopened and remanded. The issues of rating the right hip stress fracture, limitation of flexion of the right hip stress fracture, and an effective date earlier than November 30, 2017 are also remanded.