Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (left and right) is denied.,Service connection for a bilateral feet condition is remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis is being remanded for a VA medical addendum opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed foot conditions, particularly pes planus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for left knee disability, lumbosacral spine osteoarthritis, and left shoulder osteoarthritis. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The appeal for a higher disability rating for right knee degenerative arthritis, status-post surgeries, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his bilateral pes cavus, right knee disability, and left hip disability due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar spondylosis with degenerative changes at L5-S1, erectile dysfunction, headaches, cervical spondylosis with degenerative changes of the cervical spine at C4-C5, and right knee degenerative arthritis with medial meniscus tear are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence in several areas, including PTSD severity since January 2010, TDIU prior to February 26, 2013, and SMC based on aid and attendance needs.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded as the current examination did not address whether it is aggravated by his service-connected back and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected schizoaffective disorder.,Service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's cervical osteoarthritis has been granted service connection. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development and medical opinions.

Service connection granted for right knee strain, right tibia shin splint, and right hip degenerative arthritis.,An effective date of January 20, 2017 was assigned for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence, and the VA examinations did not establish a link between the current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis with osteoarthritis involving bilateral shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent prior to October 24, 2016. From October 24, 2016 onwards, he received separate evaluations for left shoulder (20%) and left knee (30%). A temporary total evaluation was also granted following a left total knee replacement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his in-service injury. The preponderance of the evidence indicated that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has denied an increased rating for tinnitus and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of bilateral knees. The case is now returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral artery disease (PAD) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, as the evidence did not show a link between the condition and service. The Veteran's current PAD was diagnosed in May 2015, over 25 years after his time at Camp Lejeune.,The Board also denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, finding that there was no evidence showing a relationship to service or any compensable manifestation within one year post-service discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain/degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine is functionally limited to 25 degrees of flexion, and the Board finds a need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the disability. The case is remanded due to the need for this examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has remanded the remaining issues for further development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip, finding that there is no evidence showing a chronic disability in service or within one year after discharge. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition is less likely caused by an in-service injury.