Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum retrospective medical opinion to assess the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis prior to November 8, 2017 and currently. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including testing of left knee range of motion in different modalities as required by VA regulations. Service connection for a left ankle condition is also remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether it was incurred during service or caused/aggravated by other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar stenosis and low back pain is being remanded due to inadequate consideration of private treatment records and an insufficient VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination and review of additional evidence, including recent treatment records and medical opinions. The issues include service connection for a lumbar spine disorder as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, and rating adjustments for osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective March 27, 2019. The issue of a separate noncompensable rating for muscle atrophy of the right knee was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS is being remanded due to a need for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting another VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip arthritis and left total hip replacement, but remanded the claims for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left leg length discrepancy. The temporary total convalescence rating claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and an increased rating for his left knee disability. The TDIU claim was also remanded due to its inextricability with the other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's current disabilities were found to be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head trauma and PTSD have been successfully reopened, and both conditions are now considered well-grounded. The remaining issues related to the lumbar spine, neurological condition, right knee, thoracic rib area, hip conditions, hearing loss, heart condition/murmur, and high blood pressure remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities, blindness, burns, or inhalation injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service.,Service connection for an acquired mental disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, prostate cancer, and right knee osteoarthritis status post total knee replacement is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease with compressive neuropathy at L5-S1 and IVDS is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, effective February 11, 2009. The Board denied a higher rating based on the lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded three issues related to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and its associated radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to insufficient review of his medical records and lack of supporting rationale in the previous examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted. Service connection was established for lumbar spine disability, but denied for post-traumatic headaches and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder has been reopened. The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder. However, the appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claims for secondary service connection for right hip, left hip, and low back disorders.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than May 11, 2011 for service connection are denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a back scar are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was previously denied multiple times. The Board found that new evidence received after previous denials vitiated the finality of those decisions, and awarded service connection effective December 2, 1976.

The Board denied service connection for a bladder impairment condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and denied entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.