Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD prior to May 16, 2018 is denied.,The Veteran’s claim for a compensable rating for his back scar is remanded.,The Veteran’s claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine with chronic lumbar strain is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis, status post left hip arthroplasty, began during service and is related to his military service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and service.,Both the right and left knee conditions were diagnosed after service, with no documented in-service injury or symptomatology.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral hand condition, tinnitus, hearing loss, left hip disability, and right leg disability. The decisions were based on a lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for left knee conditions are denied. A separate rating for limitation in flexion is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's groin condition, right foot pes planus, right foot hallux valgus, and right knee osteoarthritis. The claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent prior to June 27, 2019 and is now denied for any rating in excess of 40 percent starting from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and a peripheral vestibular disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claim for hiatal hernia / GERD was denied. His right knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis received a 100% disability rating effective November 7, 2018. The claims for left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities were remanded due to lack of evidence or insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis was also remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent from January 4, 2018. Separate disability evaluations are granted for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disorder. Service connection for secondary shoulder, knee, and ankle disorders remains remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to new evidence submitted after the previous denial. The current disabilities are presumed to have existed prior to service but were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 5, 2019, for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is denied as there is no evidence of a claim filed before that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, increased ratings for left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, and initial compensable rating for a wrist disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for diabetes mellitus or establish a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has vacated the decision and remanded the case due to a TDIU claim being raised by the Veteran's representative. The issues of service connection for basal cell carcinoma, claimed as multiple myeloma; entitlement to increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS); and entitlement to increased rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since July 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU effective as of July 2009, but denied the claim prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the RLE and LLE associated with diabetes mellitus, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the RLE, and radiculopathy of the LLE have all been denied.,Effective dates for service connection were granted on March 19, 2010, for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine associated with left knee DJD, radiculopathy of the RLE, and radiculopathy of the LLE.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.,An earlier effective date than May 23, 2013, for a 20 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS was also denied due to lack of factual ascertainability.