Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the VA examiner did not address all diagnosed left foot conditions during the appeal period, and thus an additional remand is necessary to obtain a new opinion.

The Board has found that the Veteran's pending VA examinations for his service-connected right knee and back disabilities must be obtained before a final decision can be made on his increased rating claims.

The Veteran's right hearing loss disability is not supported by the evidence of record.,There is no current diagnosis or treatment for a right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, or cervical spine disability (degenerative disc disease).,The Board finds that service connection for these conditions cannot be granted as there is insufficient evidence to establish the presence of a current disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a left ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronicity or causation in service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, GERD, colon disorders, headache disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), eye disorders, low back and neck disorders, erectile dysfunction, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes. The decision also denied reopening of the claim for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding his range of motion and functional loss. The case will be returned after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand osteoarthritis is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining issues, including respiratory disability, psychiatric disorder, cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, and foot disabilities, are remanded for further development.

The Board's decision on the increased rating for a lower back condition is vacated and the matter is dismissed due to lack of proper process under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate addendum opinion regarding the aggravation of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition by his service-connected left hip degenerative arthritis, right hip synovitis and/or degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee degenerative arthritis instability have been denied as the severity of his instability is no more than mild, with consideration of voluminous VA treatment records showing normal gait without use of assistive devices.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for migraines and anal fissure. The remaining issues of remanding for further development have been identified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left little finger degenerative arthritis of the PIP joint is a result of an aggravation of his congenital clinodactyly during service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, along with other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU from February 7, 2013, through December 14, 2014, and SMC based on housebound status effective February 7, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined evaluation did not meet the minimum combined rating criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's cluster headaches have been granted a 50% rating, effective from the date of the decision.,Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate has been granted for the period from July 26, 2016 to August 29, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence of record.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability have been granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective July 12, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The VA examiner failed to consider the Veteran's contentions about an altered gait and falling, which could cause or aggravate his back issues.