Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

All claims for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Veteran's hepatitis A has not met the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip bursitis, osteoarthritis, and degenerative arthritis has been reopened due to new evidence provided. Service connection is now granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided is inadequate for adjudication and requires another one to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including passive and active range of motion testing and sufficient detail regarding additional functional loss with repeated use over time and during flares.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injuries and is more likely due to a 2015 injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his in-service injuries. The Board concluded that the current arthritis is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervicogenic headaches, right upper extremity neuritis (claimed as radiculopathy), and obstructive sleep apnea, all secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left hip disabilities as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, finding that both conditions are caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ankle disability, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. The rating assigned is 60 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities and lack of a nexus between his claimed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's instability of the left knee is rated at 30 percent, and his degenerative arthritis and status post left medial meniscectomy are both rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the requisite schedular percentages for entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various hip and back conditions secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee degenerative arthritis is related to his active duty service.,Service connection was also granted for hepatitis C, but the Board found no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee, right knee, and left elbow. The Veteran's wrist condition did not meet the criteria for a rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorder, sinus disability, nocturia, altered gait, right ear growth, left knee strain, gynecomastia, inguinal hernia, priapism, bilateral pulmonary embolism, parotid neoplasms, and hepatitis C have been denied. The Board found no evidence of service connection or secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder disorder and right shoulder reflex sympathetic dystrophy were denied as the evidence did not show manifestations consistent with severe incomplete paralysis or complete paralysis of the upper radicular group.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee, back, ankle sprain, cluster headaches, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The examinations will help determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened since his last evaluations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for tinea pedis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU, and VA's Director of Compensation Service found that he is unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.