Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip degenerative arthritis associated with right leg below knee amputation prior to August 14, 2012 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right hip degenerative arthritis associated with right leg below knee amputation is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The conditions of chronic kidney disease, left upper extremity neurological disorder (peripheral neuropathy), left elbow disability (traumatic arthritis), and left arm disability (shoulder osteoarthritis) are now granted.

Service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and bilateral pes planus and bilateral foot disabilities has been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions are related to his period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient documentation and unclear reasons for not performing the requested examinations. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to assess his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities, as well as his positional sleep-disordered breathing.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and hair loss. The Veteran's vision problems, tension headaches, shoulder conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, and back condition are being remanded for further examination.

The Board has ordered the case back to be remanded for additional development due to issues with medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee condition and for a temporary total evaluation due to his service-connected ACL and MMT repair. The claims are being returned to the RO for further adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are at least in equipoise as to whether they render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The right and left knee disabilities remain remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was partially granted with a 70% rating from January 12, 2017 to March 27, 2019 and a 100% rating beginning March 28, 2019. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lower back condition and his military service. The Veteran is requested to provide a new VA examination or addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, lower extremity radiculopathy, anxiety disorder, and TDIU. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for his lumbar spine and peripheral nerve conditions, as well as a review of his psychiatric disability. If the ratings do not qualify him for a TDIU prior to April 9, 2015, he will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a current disability under VA standards. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar condition and TDIU, as there is insufficient evidence or due to a need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of spurring C5-6 degenerative arthritis in excess of 20 percent has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has restored the 20% disability ratings for right ankle sprain with calcaneal spurs and left knee osteoarthritis, but denied restoration of the 10% rating for left knee ACL reconstruction.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several disability rating claims and service connection claim, effectively dismissing all of them.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and right acromioclavicular joint separation status-post surgical repair with osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the reduction in their respective ratings from 20 percent to 10 percent effective December 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,No specific conditions or exposure basis were provided in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for a higher rating. The Veteran testified that his condition has worsened and requested a new examination to assess current severity.