Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by his attorney and additional VA treatment records. The claims are being reviewed to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current conditions and active service, or other relevant factors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment for the period from November 20, 2014 to September 24, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU based on this evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left hip degenerative arthritis have been denied as his hip motion does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of flexion or extension.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine, L1, L5-S1 and associated radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's mid-back disability (previously claimed as left shoulder pain) is also remanded for further examination to determine its relationship to her service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knees, as well as his wrist tendonitis, have been denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and hip disabilities are being remanded to obtain additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for his right knee disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His initial compensable evaluation for right shoulder tendonitis prior to January 16, 2013 and subsequent evaluations in excess of 10 percent since that date are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance was denied because he does not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities, which do not require him to be in bed or unable to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's hearing loss and PTSD have been granted increased ratings, while the hip and knee conditions remain at noncompensable levels. The Board has remanded for further development regarding earlier effective dates.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the Veteran's representative requested to withdraw all his appeals before the decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to frostbite residuals of the bilateral lower extremities and for a cervical spine disability, including cervical spondylosis and cervical fusion with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's right knee and right foot conditions are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.,A 20 percent disability rating is granted for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and a bilateral leg disability, manifested by pain and swelling, need further development. Specifically, there is insufficient medical opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (claimed as back problem) and a rash on both hands. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and osteoarthritis due to ambiguity in the record regarding whether he has a meniscal condition. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as an element of his increased rating claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left wrist degenerative arthritis, finding that it is a separate and distinct disability from his partial finger amputations. The Board determined that the current left wrist symptoms are secondary to his in-service amputations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip labral tear and osteoarthritis are at least as likely as not related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions were not related to active duty service.