Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and the Board has also remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his osteoarthritis and disc displacement of the right TMJ.

The Veteran's low back disability is presumed service connected due to his continuous symptoms since service and the nature of his work in engine rooms aboard naval ships.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has found that the claims of service connection for a left foot disability, including hallux rigidus, hallux valgus, left heel tenderness, bunions, corns, and osteoarthritis, as well as an initial compensable rating for osteoarthritis of the right great toe, need to be remanded due to additional evidence being submitted. The claim for a higher (compensable) rating for right foot hammertoes also needs to be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between any current right shoulder condition and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for updated VA medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right shoulder, left collar bone, right elbow, and rheumatoid arthritis conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective May 13, 2019. His right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability, with moderate osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading the Board to grant a TDIU as of April 8, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disability, specifically whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability and related radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of back disability. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam and has current diagnoses of type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral ear disabilities, and lumbar disc disease and osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar stenosis with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back disability and for TDIU due to unclear examination reports from September 2019. The matter is being returned for clarification on whether repetitive motion testing was completed, and if so, its impact on forward flexion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for alopecia, migraine headaches, low back strain, right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral syndrome, and left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis and left heel spur due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he retains the capacity for work-like activities despite limitations imposed by his conditions.

The Veteran's neck condition is granted a 10 percent rating as of August 1, 2011. The claim for an increased rating remains in controversy and the case is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and effective dates related to his service-connected conditions was granted. Service connection for migraine headaches, hypertension, PTSD, folliculitis barbae, small sliding hiatal hernia with aphthous ulcers (claimed as GERD/stomach pains), and left hip strain with osteoarthritis were all established or maintained. Effective dates were set based on the date of claim or entitlement determination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder, left shoulder, and right knee DJD conditions have been denied. The Veteran's lumbar and thoracic spine condition has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran needs to be reexamined for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as an additional VA etiology opinion for his obstructive sleep apnea. The claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, small Haglund deformities, and hammer toes are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and left hip osteoarthritis due to a lack of a VA examination addressing his disability. The Veteran is to be scheduled for an appropriate VA examination.