Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the appeal must be remanded due to incomplete records and non-compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's service dates are still unclear, particularly regarding periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, as well as the need for VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his current residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, as well as for obtaining VA and private treatment records. The Veteran also needs a statement of the case issued regarding his migraine headaches and anxiety disorder claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, except that a TDIU was granted effective February 13, 2017.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis with disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to September 24, 2019, and after this date as well.

The Board denied service connection for right hip arthralgia and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including right knee meniscal tear and left knee chondromalacia with arthritis, are currently rated at the lowest possible levels due to their limited functional impairment. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's current low back disability is related to his in-service paralumbar strain. The examiner must consider the appellant's lay statements and provide an opinion on the etiology of the claimed condition.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities. The main reasons are that there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if the lung disability (asbestosis) and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are related to service, particularly given the Veteran's reports of asbestos exposure during service. Additionally, the Board finds it necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s current degenerative arthritis of the left knee is aggravated by his service-connected Pellegrini-Steida disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional information and VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, service connection for a left knee disability, and service connection for bilateral cataracts. The appeal is REMANDED for further development regarding these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and lumbar bulge and disc herniation.,The Board has also granted service connection for a left knee condition, including degenerative arthritis of the left knee, internal derangement and torn meniscus of the left knee with status post arthroscopy and medial meniscectomy.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue is granted as secondary to service-connected depression and restless leg syndrome. Service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, and vitamin deficiency are denied.

The Veteran's request for a higher disability rating for her right ankle disability is granted, and she is awarded TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Her right knee disability remains remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings and TDIU has been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney withdrawing the claims before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a mechanical low back disability is reopened. The Board finds additional development necessary due to the possibility of worsening knee disabilities and new onset of lower back pain.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae with disfigurement results in one characteristic of disfigurement.,The Board has remanded the claim for entitlement to service connection for a left lower extremity disability, to include inflammation with radiculitis.