Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the right knee osteoarthritis is caused by or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability, and therefore remands the case for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims have been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a prostate disability was denied. The claims for increased ratings of left leg thrombophlebitis, left knee instability (from June 14, 2012), right knee instability from June 14, 2012, and right knee degenerative joint disease were also denied. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee degenerative osteoarthritis and chondromalacia was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for ulcerative proctitis are dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, an increased rating for right knee disability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee degenerative arthritis is granted. The case is remanded for a rating higher than 20 percent for post-surgery residuals of a left fibula aneurysmal bone cyst.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The effective date for the combined 70 percent rating was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during service.,A higher rating of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from October 25, 2016 to September 28, 2017. TDIU is granted for this period. The issue of service connection for dizziness/vertigo as a residual of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of initial rating disability rating greater than 20 percent for a lumbar spine condition, service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD), and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disorder is related to service. The examiner needs to address if there was a superimposed injury during service and if his current conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic thoracolumbar strain was denied due to lack of in-service event or medical evidence linking the condition.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and he is awarded a rating of 40 percent for his degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The appeal concerning entitlement to an effective date prior to April 10, 2003 for the grant of service connection for the lumbar spine disability is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s CAD, valvular heart disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and cardiac arrest with multiple stent placements began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as his symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent.,The effective date for service connection for PTSD is denied, and the earliest possible date is November 8, 2016.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee secondary to right knee disability is remanded due to incomplete rationale in the previous VA examination.

The Board has denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his parachute jumping during active duty service. The decision also remanded the issue of a compensable evaluation prior to October 30, 2017 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for limitation of extension of the right and left hip/thighs, as well as restoration of a 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion of the left hip, are denied. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.