Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations in July 2018. The Veteran is also required to provide additional medical records.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to active service or asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including unspecified anxiety disorder and peripheral neuropathy, related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to November 5, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand joint pain, stiffness and swelling, left elbow degenerative arthritis, right elbow joint pain, stiffness and swelling, right shoulder joint pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of motion and function, left upper extremity numbness, right upper extremity numbness, nausea and vomiting, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, including as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck pain, stiffness and swelling, including as secondary to service-connected TBI, left knee joint pain, including as secondary to service-connected right knee and left foot disabilities, Athlete's foot, right foot, and TMJD, including as secondary to service-connected TBI have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine condition is remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion regarding its severity prior to June 7, 2019.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial disability rating for his service-connected IBS with GERD is also remanded as there are inadequate VA examination reports and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 5, 2013 for service connection of osteoarthritis and thoracolumbar spine (claimed as back condition) because the claim was not received within one year after separation from active duty. The error in the date stamp has been acknowledged, and the proper effective date is August 5, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for left trigger (index) finger disability and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 17, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right and left foot fifth metatarsal fractures. However, the claims for other diagnosed foot disabilities and right hip disability are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting such a rating in the year prior to February 11, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the claims are being reviewed by a Higher-Level Review process conducted by an experienced adjudicator of the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone renders him unable to perform daily activities of living without the assistance of another, and his statements are credited. The Board grants SMC for aid and attendance from another due to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service connection for right lower leg radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The extension of the temporary total evaluation beyond May 1, 2017 for the Veteran’s degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with spinal stenosis status post decompressive laminectomy and medial facetectomy is denied.

The Veteran's left elbow lateral epicondylitis and left shoulder tendonitis with impingement were initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 9, 2009, and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The cervical spine disability was also initially rated at 10 percent. All ratings have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings for his back disorder, surgical scars of the left knee, left total knee replacement, and left knee instability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from December 7, 2015. A 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted from June 1, 2015.

The Board dismissed claims for service connection for right knee disability and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure.