Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion in a previous decision. The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar spondylosis, is now subject to further review with additional evidence and a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and the effective dates for benefits were not established.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as DDD, lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylosis, degenerative disc syndrome, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hypertension were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU beginning May 11, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of available service treatment records and an inaccurate request for radiation exposure information. The Veteran's bladder cancer is presumed not related to ionizing radiation, but his degenerative arthritis may be related to ionizing radiation or his bladder cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected neck disability, back disability, and right and left upper extremity disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 20 percent, but denied for a higher rating prior to February 27, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected knee disabilities and hearing loss. The appeal of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no continuity of symptomatology. The Board also noted that the Veteran's low back disorder was not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's back disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), was not found to be related to service due to lack of evidence showing chronicity within a presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee. Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, residuals of a left leg fracture, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, right hallux valgus (bunions), and left hallux valgus (bunions). The cases are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, fallopian tube adhesions with removal of the left ovary, and increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative arthritis status post arthroscopy have all been denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease is remanded.,Service connection for hypertension (HTN) and right knee osteoarthritis was denied as the conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor are they related to a service-connected condition. The Veteran’s BHL prior to December 7, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis was remanded as the evidence does not show that the condition manifested during or within one year after service. The Veteran’s BHL prior to December 7, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and sinusitis have been denied. The initial increased ratings of 20 percent for the back disability, 10 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy, and 30 percent for sinusitis are effective September 28, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the disability warranted such a rating prior to May 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The issues regarding trigeminal neuralgia and degenerative arthritis require additional development.