Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and propriety of discontinuance are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, traumatic brain injury, degenerative arthritis of spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and TDIU due to unclear records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination to determine if the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to service. The claim for increased rating of the left forearm scar remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and for a TDIU. Additional evidence is needed, including VA examination results that comply with Correia and Sharp standards, and development of the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The remaining issues related to left knee replacement, lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with IVDS, left lower extremity sciatica, and costochondritis with rib subluxation and left breast numbness are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis is granted a 20 percent rating, effective June 29, 2018. The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for headaches remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate opinions in the original decision. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for his left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, but this claim was not addressed in the original decision.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings and financial assistance have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The eligibility for specially adapted housing has already been granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and meniscectomy residuals, is rated at 30 percent effective October 10, 2013. A TDIU was granted prior to July 28, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 2015.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability. Service connection is granted for lumbar spine osteoarthritis. The claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and skin disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The adjustment disorder claim was not granted, the right knee replacement rating remained at 30%, the back condition, migraines, and left hip condition claims were also denied, and a TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder (social phobia and PTSD) from May 29, 2013 to February 4, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for the same condition was denied as of February 4, 2017.,TDIU is granted from May 29, 2013 to May 21, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury during basic training. The decision does not address any other issues or provide a rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor does he have a permanent and total disability due to his service-connected conditions. Therefore, SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound rate is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and left ankle strain, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the fact that his combined rating does not meet the schedular criteria, but he has been unable to find suitable employment due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected back disability is denied as the evidence does not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS meeting the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability remains remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and outstanding private treatment records. The issues are related to various conditions including actinic keratosis, atherosclerosis lower extremities, atrial fibrillation, basal cell carcinoma left and right cheek/right nose, cervical spine stenosis, chronic kidney disease stage 3, depression, erectile dysfunction, essential hypertension, left carotid stenosis, mixed hyperlipidemia, lumbar spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and carotid artery stenosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and residuals of left hand injury have been granted. The Board found that the current conditions are related to in-service injuries.