Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to non-compliance with previous directives and for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and third and fourth finger fractures of the left hand. The case must be remanded to allow for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that further examination and consideration are necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as his entitlement to earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the right knee unicondylar revision arthroplasty from February 17, 2017 to February 22, 2018. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent effective December 6, 2019. The TDIU claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent effective from December 28, 2015. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine appropriate disability ratings and service connection for migraines, left hip strain with osteoarthritis and limitation of flexion, left hip strain with osteoarthritis and limitation of abduction, adduction, and rotation (prior to September 1, 2016), and generalized arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis, right and left foot plantar fasciitis, tinea pedis, and tinea cruris as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.,Service connection was also denied for rhinitis and stomach disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of other potentially applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records related to a September 2018 rear-end accident and physical therapy. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional evidentiary development due to a lack of a VA examination and insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to her military service, but further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted as service connected, while his iliotibial band syndrome is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current degenerative arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has remanded the claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the right knee and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development. The Veteran's range of motion must be assessed throughout the time period of his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are not ready for decision due to inadequate VA examinations, and thus these issues must be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service, specifically a helicopter crash in 1962.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left hand and left foot disabilities have been denied.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right foot has also been denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's right thumb and left thumb conditions are remanded for clarification of diagnosis and determination of service connection.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded for an addendum opinion on its relationship to service.