Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected right great toe disability, finding that his symptoms are already accounted for in his existing ratings and any additional ratings would violate the rule against pyramiding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's conditions and his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of December 16, 2016. The CAD claim has been reopened due to new and material evidence received since the September 2013 rating decision. The low back condition is denied as not related to service. The CAD, diverticulosis, and GERD claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of multiple fractures of the left thumb is denied. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5228 and 5003.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims in October 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hand disability, including treatment records and an examination report. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records from Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from April 26, 1996 to June 27, 2008 for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The Board denied service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine as they are not attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left hip, degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, finding that his current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied because there was no CUE in the January 1993 rating decision that initially denied service connection, while the claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied as the Veteran did not have this condition.

Service connection has been granted for left and right knee conditions.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hip degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, painful limitation of extension of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic joint pain and a low back disorder due to insufficient medical evidence on the record investigating possible relationships between his current conditions and his in-service diagnoses. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted. The current rating of 40% is maintained since January 31, 2013.

The Board has remanded the cases of left knee disability and arthritis, degenerative lower back condition for further development. The Veteran's left knee disabilities are to be evaluated by a VA medical opinion.