Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, his claim for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disorder, left knee chondromalacia, and degenerative arthritis of the lower spine due to lack of a fully-informed decision. The issues are being remanded because VA medical opinions were not obtained regarding the Veteran’s lay contentions and flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for an upper back condition and granted a 40% rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, effective from March 23, 2010. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to that date was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for chlamydia and granted a 50 percent rating for migraines beginning October 11, 2019. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for rating purposes and requests a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's osteoarthritis, right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to missing VA treatment records, need for updated military personnel records verification of Southwest Asia service, and the need for additional examinations for sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic headaches.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches. The claims for service connection for damaged retina with photosensitivity, back disability, and neck disability have been dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction as they were not properly appealed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left hip osteoarthritis, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was unable to work since separating from active duty in 2016 due to his hip conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves were denied increased ratings. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent prior to August 13, 2018, and 10 percent thereafter. The left and right lower extremity radiculopathies were also denied increased ratings.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for cervical spine stenosis, denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left hand, and remanded issues regarding degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and sinusitis. The Veteran is to be scheduled for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's spine degenerative arthritis, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy claims due to inadequate VA examination findings. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a renal cyst, asthma, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and cervical spondylosis is remanded due to insufficient development. The Veteran will need updated VA treatment records, an opinion on whether her current asthma is related to service, and examinations for her left shoulder, cervical, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back pain, scoliosis, cervical spine arthritis, left arm lateral epicondylitis, knee bursitis, leg and hip conditions, restless leg syndrome, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, dizziness, foot arthritis, bunions, osteoporosis, hypertension, heart condition, insomnia, sleep apnea, myofascial pain syndrome, eye pain/dryness, gynecological condition (uterine cysts/fibroids), breast cancer, depression secondary to breast cancer, jaw/teeth pain, and PTSD. The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than September 24, 2009, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board also remanded issues regarding a higher evaluation for his left knee and extension of a temporary total disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to assess his left knee, right hip, and left hip conditions due to inadequate testing in previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbar strain with degenerative changes based on the Veteran's credible statements about an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for substance abuse was denied as the Veteran's depression is not considered to be due to his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis but denied claims for left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral elbow rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and an eye disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, GERD, chest pain secondary to GERD, and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's tinnitus. The Board found that while there was no specific diagnosis of tinnitus in his records, he provided credible testimony regarding its occurrence during service.