Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective July 23, 2019. The initial ratings for hypertension and bilateral foot disabilities remain unchanged.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for tinnitus, residuals of right-shoulder rotator cuff surgery, and left shoulder condition were granted. Claims for disorder manifested by sleep issues, hypertension, radiculopathy of the LLE, radiculopathy of the RLE, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis, as well as PTSD, are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations for his cervical spine, right knee, right shoulder, left elbow, TBI, seizures, and migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's June 1999 automobile accident contributed to her bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the cause of his condition. The right knee instability, bilateral knee disabilities, left knee impairment with traumatic arthritis and degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), and right knee impairment with traumatic arthritis and degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion) are also remanded. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination.

The appeal for a compensable rating for Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome is dismissed, and the case is remanded for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and denied both his direct service connection claims for right knee osteoarthritis and secondary service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The decision also found that there was no evidence of a nexus between current left knee or right knee osteoarthritis and active duty service.

The VA examiner found that there were no neurologic abnormalities or findings related to the thoracolumbar spine in the December 2017 examination report. However, the examiner noted 'presence of bilateral radiculopathy' at the end of the report. The decision is remanded for a new examination to determine the severity and associated neurological impairments due to the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an updated medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic in-service condition or continuity of symptomatology. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus between the current right shoulder disorders and active service.

The Veteran's back disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest until years after separation and there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,Right hip and right leg disorders are also not service-connected, with the Veteran failing to provide credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims of higher ratings for her right elbow condition and service connection for a neck disorder are being remanded. Additionally, the need for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is also being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate previous medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated at 40 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,Right and left lower extremity sciatica are each rated at 10 percent. The September 2019 VA examination indicated moderate constant pain on both sides.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for postoperative left spermatocele and minimal lumbar degenerative arthritis due to incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to combat service and has been granted as service connected.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease, as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to assess his current disability levels and determine if his symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion. The current 10 percent rating adequately compensates his functional loss due to pain and other symptoms.,Service connection is granted for hypertensive retinopathy as secondary to service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA medical examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy.