Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a bilateral foot, right leg, or left leg disability during his lifetime. The appellant's statements regarding these disabilities are not considered competent evidence as they do not demonstrate medical expertise.,The Veteran was diagnosed with CAD in 1999, which is more than 37 years after his discharge from service. There is no evidence linking the diagnosis to his service or any incident therein.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequate opinions in the August 2014 VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis and impingement, which he contends had its onset during his combat service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left foot disability. The appeal is now remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling new examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder, left hip replacement due to degenerative arthritis and avascular necrosis, and residuals of a right hip injury from May 26, 2009 to August 31, 2013 as additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused him to become obese, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence, as well as for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for right thumb sprain, COPD, and flatfeet have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Sleep apnea, right knee instability (post-meniscectomy), right knee degenerative arthritis (post-meniscectomy), and left knee tendinitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine disorder and for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the claims for increased rating for PAF, residuals of right-hand injury, residuals of left-hand injury, and Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Right Leg are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or continuity of symptoms after service. The Board also found that any current arthritis is more likely due to age-related degenerative changes rather than service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 12, 2013 and February 26, 2013 for service connection of right knee osteoarthritis and right hip disability are remanded due to pending issues.,These cases will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, erectile dysfunction (ED), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been granted. The Veteran also has a residual symptom of headaches, non-specific, but it is not considered service-connected.,Service connection was established for all claimed conditions based on direct evidence linking each condition to in-service events.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis was denied. The current disability rating of 10% is based on limitation of motion, with flexion limited to 110 degrees and extension limited to 5 degrees.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis disability was granted a 20 percent evaluation prior to September 4, 2009 and denied any increase in rating from that date. The issue of increased rating for the period since July 1, 2018 is remanded due to additional development being required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition. The case is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee instability and limitation of extension are rated at 10 percent each, effective August 21, 2015. The left knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent from August 21, 2015 to December 16, 2015, and then at 30 percent post-total arthroplasty.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as she has not met the minimum percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine was preexisting and not aggravated by service. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his condition existed prior to service, and if so, whether it was aggravated during service.