Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and low back disorder due to insufficient etiology opinions in the existing record.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his left shoulder disability is dismissed. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as any claimed right or left leg disabilities. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis and an increased rating for right shoulder bursitis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue of service connection for PTSD (unspecified) remains unresolved.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates for his acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, left ankle disability, and right eye disability are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and a left knee disability due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran contends his current disabilities are related to an in-service motorcycle accident.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an examination for the right knee and the need to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his service, specifically standing and walking on asphalt as an Air Force security guard.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to lack of compliance with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), and incomplete private audiology test results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar strain, left ankle degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee with degenerative joint disease, and hemorrhoids, caused wear and tear to his clothing. The Board granted clothing allowances for these conditions in calendar year 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's neck disorder is aggravated by his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and lateral meniscus tear.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal has been returned for further review. His right knee osteoarthritis with retropatellar pain syndrome and instability are being remanded, as is his claim for left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and the lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for residuals of a left knee gunshot wound is granted, with a maximum schedular rating of 40 percent. The compensable disability rating for left knee scars remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and development due to lack of range of motion testing in previous VA examination reports, as well as issues regarding an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's symptomatic lower back with osteoarthritis is rated at 40 percent from October 27, 2010. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy since September 15, 2016. A TDIU is granted from September 19, 2016.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically whether they are caused or aggravated by her service-connected plantar fasciitis and/or left ankle disability.