Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for squamous cell carcinoma and back disability were denied, while his claim for right leg disability was not addressed. The appeal is granted in part (squamous cell carcinoma) but denied overall.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected right knee disability, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for medial and lateral instability of the right knee remains pending.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings.,An effective date prior to June 9, 2008, was denied for the award of service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent disabling since February 1, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show forward flexion of 30 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his right shoulder degenerative arthritis from April 28, 2011 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s right arm abduction has been limited to at worst 80 degrees since April 28, 2011 and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. For the TDIU claim, the Veteran's disability picture did not meet the schedular requirements as his combined disability rating was less than 70% when considering both service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee conditions are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection was denied for bilateral pes planus, bilateral heel spurs, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's right foot bunion with degenerative arthritis has been rated at a 10 percent rating prior to November 15, 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left wrist disability, right wrist disability, migraine headaches, psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and night terrors), degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as an upper and lower back condition), left leg disability (claimed as restless leg syndrome), and bilateral foot disability (claimed as flatfeet).,The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and shoulder osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was remanded for additional evidence. The claims for service connection were not granted, and the ratings for chronic bronchitis and lumbar degenerative arthritis remain unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for a right-hand disorder and a left knee disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are otherwise related to active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to eczema and other service-connected disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding service connection for a left shoulder disability and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and various knee and foot conditions, effectively preclude him from all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and providing addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's coronary artery disease, hypertension, and osteoarthritis.

The Board has found the VA medical opinion inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding all right shoulder disabilities, including impingement syndrome and posterior capsule fibrosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development of the record, including obtaining a VA medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for various foot and ankle conditions, including a back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations regarding the Veteran's work-related functional limitations due to his service-connected disabilities.