Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's right hand disability is related to his service, including an in-service injury in December 1968.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a low back disability due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of in-service documentation. The case will be returned to obtain private treatment records, service personnel records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent prior to November 3, 2015, and at 20 percent since that date. The Board has ordered a new VA examination due to the Veteran's contention of recent regression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee, hip, and cervical spine disabilities due to additional VA-generated evidence. The issues include left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease (post ACL tear and arthroscopic repair), lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine strain, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right hand tendonitis, left hand tendonitis, and muscle tension headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of whether his right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's left hip disorder and its relationship to his military service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional supporting evidence.

The Veteran's increased ratings for PTSD and degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine, with intervertebral disc syndrome were denied. The Veteran was not granted initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his radiculopathy conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted as a subsequent manifestation of already service-connected left ankle arthritis.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a hip examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that his disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the Veteran's statements are credible and in equipoise with medical evidence regarding continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to frostbite, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to frostbite. The VA examiner found that there is no indication prior to 2014 that the Veteran suffered any complications from these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is at least as likely as not related to her active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The right knee osteoarthritis is also found to be at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain relevant treatment records and for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, liver disorder, and a compensable rating for the service-connected acute rheumatic fever with migratory polyarthritis have been dismissed. The claims for service connection for low back pain and chronic kidney condition manifested by hematuria in service were granted as new and material evidence was received. Service connection has been established for right knee disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and the Veteran is presumed to have a kidney condition due to Camp Lejeune exposure. The remaining claims are remanded.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability is granted. Service connection for a right shoulder disability is also granted. The claim for an increased rating for low back strain, degenerative arthritis, and IVDS is remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical examinations and treatment records for the Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as to address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings.