Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent effective May 14, 2013. The neck disc problem (degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine) is rated at 20 percent. Post-traumatic headaches are rated at noncompensable. TBI is rated at noncompensable. Service connection for left knee disorder and left elbow disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new examinations being needed and an addendum opinion on secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms since his active service.

The Veteran's loss of balance is due to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy and L2-L5 laminectomy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis with radiculopathy and neuropathy. The Board granted service connection for loss of balance.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports, and further development is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied. The Board found that the current evidence does not support a finding that his sleep apnea began during service or was related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. His right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative arthritis are also remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current cervical spine disability and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding his neck disability and bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right foot spurs, and degenerative arthritis of the spine (back disability) due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete private medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including an addendum VA examination to address the severity of his left elbow degenerative arthritis and other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right hip disorders as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction, sleep disturbances, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if his back disability and psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service connection to right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and bilateral shoulder conditions. The Board found that there was no factual ascertainable increase in disability within a year prior to the date of the claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis may be service connected as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion and the need for another opinion addressing whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disorders due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis is related to his active service and has granted service connection for both right and left hip conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 17, 2015. He also received initial ratings of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities from December 31, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis was granted. Increased ratings were granted for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, as well as limitation of extension of the right knee.