Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including an evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, a compensable evaluation for left testicular varicocele with right testicular pain and tenderness, an evaluation for restless leg syndrome, and service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for further examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted. The Board finds that the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, scoliosis, and right sciatic radulopathy are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and right foot bunions are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee degenerative arthritis and thoracolumbar spine DDD, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other manifestations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has revised the effective date of service connection for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis from October 2015 to September 11, 2008 due to a clear and unmistakable error in not considering relevant service treatment records.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 26, 2000 for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various foot, shoulder, hip, ankle, fatigue, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and psychiatric conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There was no medical nexus provided to link any of the Veteran's current diagnoses to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain with scoliosis and degenerative arthritis due to incomplete information from the VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hip disabilities, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate examination reports or unclear findings. The issues include service connection for these conditions and determining their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The RO is instructed to obtain additional VA opinions addressing the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and provide a memorandum detailing his periods of active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine were denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to frostbite he incurred during service. However, the Board denied service connection for an eye disorder claimed as blurred vision, concluding that it did not begin during active service and is not otherwise related to his right eye injury.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as service connected, based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current hearing loss disability in either ear.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, to include as secondary to lumbar strain disability. The case is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to a motorcycle accident during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and other specified depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Specifically, a VA examiner is needed to address whether the current headache syndrome began during military service or is otherwise related to that service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his right knee degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the nature, extent, and severity of his symptoms from July 9, 2013 to the present.