Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip condition is dismissed because the issue has been resolved in his favor. The low back disability claim is denied as it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. His TDIU claim is granted effective October 24, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since November 5, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU for this period of time but remanded the issue prior to November 5, 2019 due to lack of development.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated. The Veteran's back, foot, hip, and knee disabilities are being remanded for additional medical opinions to address the etiology of her conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a fractured jaw has been denied as there is no evidence of current residuals or any history of such condition during the pendency of his claim.,His claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, bruxism, and disability of the jaw other than jaw fracture are remanded due to incomplete service records and potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations in determining an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim is now pending again with instructions to obtain a new examination that adequately addresses flare-ups and repeated use over time.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and personnel records. The Veteran's claims of low back and left hip conditions are also being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and records are needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly his neuropathy. The claims for increased ratings will also be remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for arthritis and instability, with no higher ratings granted due to lack of additional range of motion limitations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that the current disabilities are related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 20 percent rating from March 23, 2015 to May 20, 2019 and from November 12, 2019 to May 24, 2021. A higher rating is not warranted for any period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to potential eligibility for SMC under certain criteria. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated in detail.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disabilities, and obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the claimed primary vitiligo.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records from April 2021 to present, scheduling a VA examination, and addressing the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee instability and left knee strain with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral chondromalacia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar degenerative disc disease were denied in February 2011. The Board finds that the February 2011 decision contained CUE as it failed to fully consider available evidence of record, including service treatment records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted with an effective date of January 26, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service injury and that any present conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left varicocele.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to August 2, 2021 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent from May 21, 2020. His left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is denied. His femoral nerve radiculopathy in both legs is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury and is more likely due to natural aging.