Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied. The effective date for service connection cannot be earlier than November 3, 2017 due to a prior final denial in July 1995. An initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet are related to his military service.,The Veteran’s right ankle disability, diagnosed as posterior tibial tendonitis and osteoarthritis, is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of sleep apnea and initial increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, and GERD have been dismissed as his appeal was withdrawn by a valid written request.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot condition and its relationship to his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, degenerative arthritis, and recurrent subluxation is granted. The issue of secondary service connection for right shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The case will be reviewed with additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to the inadequacy of his most recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a groin disability, finding that there was no direct evidence linking his current osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis to his military service. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including laxity and limitation of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted a higher rating for slight instability but denied the request for higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depressive disorder, are not sufficient to qualify for a TDIU due to his failure to submit the required VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee disability and gastrointestinal disability due to secondary service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral foot condition and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected, with the exception of a temporary 40% rating for lumbosacral strain prior to March 19, 2020. The Veteran's current claim remains denied.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board denied an increased rating due to lack of evidence of incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes with purulent discharge.,The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and right hip osteoarthritis are both rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied increased ratings based on the absence of limitation of motion, ankylosis, or other significant functional impairment.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied increased ratings due to lack of evidence of ankylosis, lateral instability, or recurrent subluxation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the previous VA examination. The Veteran's right foot, knee, and calf disabilities are being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the condition is not related to service and does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized as residuals of a left shoulder strain/impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, is rated at 20 percent since October 29, 2019. Prior to this date, the evidence does not show that motion in the arm was limited to the shoulder level or midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical examinations, and the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to service.