Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical records and need for additional opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's right elbow osteoarthritis has been rated at 10 percent since September 2015. The Board is remanding the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition, including during flare-ups.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of flexion. The most severe range of motion found was 70 degrees of flexion and full extension to zero degrees.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and instability, as well as right elbow osteoarthritis (major), were denied. The RO found that the Veteran’s conditions did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations used to determine the initial ratings for the Veteran's cervical condition were inadequate and requires further examination. The case is being remanded for a new evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with chronic mechanical low back syndrome.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his requests for withdrawal of the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current left knee osteoarthritis and his service-connected right knee disability. The Board also found that the preponderance of evidence does not support direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and examination regarding the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding of a current disability. The right knee condition is remanded due to lack of an opinion on its etiology.

The Board is remanding the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine from June 29, 2015 onward due to insufficient information. VA treatment records from June 2016 through the present need to be obtained and associated with the claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder bicipital tendon tear, labral tear including SLAP and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to lack of evidence showing a link between his current condition and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include service connection, rating determinations, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The effective dates requested are not granted.,The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for left ankle disability is denied as there was no worsening of symptoms within the one-year appeal period.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and digestive disorder is denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disorder is not granted.,Compensable ratings for impairment of the left and right hip are not granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability was reopened and granted. The Board also found that the current degenerative arthritis of the spine is related to an in-service injury, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service connected right knee and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records. His claim for an initial compensable disability rating for Hepatitis B is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of feet and PVD due to insufficient information on their etiology. A VA medical opinion is needed.