Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding visual field testing results and right hip disability examination.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is granted service connection, and the Board also remanded cases for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim for a left foot/ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to an in-service head injury.,The current left shoulder and right shoulder disorders do not appear to be directly related to service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms within the presumptive period or post-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,His left foot bunionectomy and residual scar are currently rated appropriately, with no higher schedular rating being warranted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and spine. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically multiple parachute jumps during active duty.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back disability) is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, is related to service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from May 6, 2019. The rating was granted as the condition met the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot degenerative arthritis and plantar fasciitis due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing whether his pre-existing conditions were aggravated during honorable active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in reopening the claim for service connection and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability as there was no new and relevant evidence presented to support the claim.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence had been submitted, and the denial for the claim of entitlement to service connection for knee joint osteoarthritis is confirmed. The Veteran's left knee condition was not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-surgical ACL reconstruction and degenerative arthritis, is rated at 10 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as the flexion limitation does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that resulted in current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination, and requests that the RO attempt to schedule another one.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues are related to arthritis and chronic body pain in various joints, but the appeal is not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act or Agent Orange.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there are no remaining cases or controversies on appeal regarding earlier effective dates for service connection and a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection claim is pending.