Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia, as new and material evidence was received. The Veteran's current diagnoses are in equipoise with his in-service injuries, thus resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated under the criteria for arthritis, not retropatellar pain syndrome. The Board found that his symptoms were due to unrelated degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disorder, kidney stone, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and sleep disturbances. The AOJ is instructed to ensure all relevant records are translated and obtain appropriate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral ankle disorders, bilateral knee disability, and low back disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for right lower extremity sciatica and has remanded the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle traumatic arthritis. The right tibia and fibula fracture residuals claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective April 27, 2018.,An earlier effective date was denied for the lumbosacral strain claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, is related to his service and grants this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left thumb osteoarthritis and a left elbow disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being directly related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The right wrist osteoarthritis claim was denied as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating, while the PTSD with anxiety, panic attacks and depression claim resulted in an earlier effective date of November 29, 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left hip disability and his service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis, left patellofemoral syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), allergic rhinitis, left palm ganglion cyst excision, herpes simplex, acne vulgaris, and uterine fibroids, have prevented the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his lumbosacral strain (back condition) to include as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee and hip conditions, finding that there was no direct or indirect link between these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine conditions. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left ear hearing loss, degenerative arthritis in the arms, elbows, legs, sleep apnea, colon disorder, corns on the feet, fibromyalgia, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran was not diagnosed with any of these conditions during or after his military service.

The Veteran's back condition was evaluated at a 20 percent rating from February 24, 2019 to June 21, 2019. The Board denied an increased rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and limited extension due to an inadequate explanation of motion loss during flare-ups in the April 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically limitation of flexion to 5 degrees and no more than 10 degrees of extension, was granted an initial rating of 30 percent prior to November 2, 2016.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as inadequate examinations for the claims of service connection for bilateral knees, right shoulder impingement, lumbar spine strain, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.