Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis, right knee as secondary to left knee replacement due to osteoarthritis should be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus (secondary to hearing loss), left hip osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of evidence from Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of right and left shoulder strain, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis are favorable findings by the AOJ. The claims for service connection for bilateral collar bone conditions have been remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis with plantar fibromatosis, degenerative arthritis of the right foot, degenerative arthritis of the left foot, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, and degenerative arthritis of the left ankle due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis with ACL tears and left knee osteoarthritis with ACL tears, finding that the conditions were diagnosed within one year of separation from service and did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 30 percent, has not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder were not found to be related to service, leading to a denial of the claims.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is rated at the maximum available rating due to recurrent dislocations and degenerative arthritis.,Prior to April 21, 2015, the Veteran was granted a 30% disability rating for his depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle disability, left shin splints, and lower back condition due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including its relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for osteoarthritis right tarsal and hemorrhoidectomy have been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right knee degenerative arthritis has been withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder and bladder disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period, nor did it find continuity of symptomatology since service.,For the period prior to July 18, 2018, TDIU was denied as the Veteran's combined disability rating was 40 percent and did not meet the criteria for schedular consideration. For the period beginning July 18, 2018, TDIU was granted due to his PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his left knee medial collateral ligament strain with degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to inadequate development. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right knee degenerative arthritis, status post meniscectomy and TDIU for the time period prior to February 16, 2016 due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and undergo an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable evaluation have been denied. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence is against his claims for bilateral foot disability, left hand condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain, left knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The right knee condition is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to multiple conditions including dermatophytosis, post-traumatic headaches, painful scar, traumatic brain injury, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and instability of the left knee.

The appeal for service connection of multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and back condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.