Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues for further development due to new and material evidence having been submitted for service connection of pseudofolliculitis barbae. The left knee disability, hypertension, and other conditions are also being remanded for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for osteoarthritis of multiple joints (including bilateral ankles), spina bifida occulta, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a cognitive disability claimed as short-term memory loss. Additional evidence is needed from SSA and VA medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to a lifting injury during active service.

The Veteran's right and left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion are granted a rating of 30 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective March 1, 2008. The lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 2, 2013, and then increased to 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent from April 19, 2017, to July 29, 2018, and from August 22, 2018, to March 28, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability more nearly approximates forward flexion of 30 degrees due to functional limitations throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several conditions have been dismissed. The claims of entitlement to a higher rating for Reiter’s syndrome prior to September 21, 2015 and for TDIU prior to September 15, 2015 were withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication due to inadequate reasons and basis in the prior decision, specifically regarding the Veteran's symptoms of his legs giving way, use of assistive devices for ambulation, severe limited mobility, sleep impairment due to pain, and chronic constipation due to pain medication. The Board also found that referral for extraschedular consideration is necessary based on the Veteran’s worsening disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis with Osgood-Schlatter's disease, but the issues of service connection for a left hip disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative arthritis. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for his chiropractor records and VA treatment records are sought.

The Veteran's hypertension had its onset in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of increased ratings for cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and scars of the right and left shoulders are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a November 2011 total right knee replacement surgery, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that VA carelessness or negligence caused his additional disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA is required to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, considering his reported fall in April 2010 and the medical literature on ankle instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's current back condition is denied as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded all issues due to the failure of the AOJ to provide proper notice to the appellant's representative regarding a June 2016 rating decision. The CUE claim should be resolved prior to resolving the new and material evidence claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and readjudication due to inadequate VA examinations in determining the severity of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine sprain with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her right and left knee degenerative arthritis with idiopathic leg cramps have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,A total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) has also been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteophytes are each granted a 10% disability rating. The Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis is denied an initial rating in excess of 10%.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as scoliosis and degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by his military duties.