Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee disorder and migraine headaches have been granted. The Board found new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, including testimony regarding in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since then.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability (other than pes planus), finding no evidence of chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and concluding that there was insufficient medical nexus to establish a relationship between any current right foot disability and active service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, right heel pain, left heel pain, right hip strain, and left hip osteoarthritis.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, rotator cuff tear of the right shoulder, right hand and wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left hand and wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The disabilities are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hip strain with osteoarthritis is due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, specifically pes planus and knee instability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and spondylosis is rated at 20 percent, effective October 1, 2019. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was initially denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 18, 2019 but granted a disability rating of 20 percent beginning on that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia.,Service connection was denied for a right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing its onset during or within one year after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service and concluding that his current condition is not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were all denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and radiculopathy were also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and spine disability have been rated at the maximum available ratings, with no further increase granted.

The Board dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted service connection. The initial rating for tinnitus has been increased to 40 percent, effective January 31, 2017. The effective date for service connection for back disability is set at January 31, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and thoracolumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for various orthopedic disabilities, including low back strain, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right ankle degenerative joint disease are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and residuals from an in-service head injury, including TBI.

The Veteran's initial rating for recurrent right foot strain was denied, and the claim of a higher rating prior to November 15, 2018 and from that date for thoracic and lumbar degenerative disc disease with anterolisthesis L5-S1 is remanded.

The Board has denied a non-initial compensable rating for osteoporosis of the thoracic spine and has remanded the issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's symptoms are related to her lumbosacral DDD and spine arthritis, which was service-connected after this increased rating appeal was perfected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition is related to his military service and/or secondary to his service-connected disabilities, particularly his cervical spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and left hip strain, but granted a 40% rating for the Veteran's back disability from August 12, 2015. The appeals for increased ratings of the back disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.