Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions, and a new VA examination is required for an addendum opinion regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Claims for maculopathy, left eye; hepatic cysts; right knee degenerative arthritis; and left knee degenerative arthritis are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an increased rating for left knee disability. The claim for service connection of PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders is remanded.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU, but this issue is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in September 2019, and a new examination is required to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a cervical spine disability, and ratings for low back IVDS with DJD have been remanded due to inadequate development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, including degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current disability to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip disabilities have made him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 1, 2011. The Board granted TDIU based on the evidence showing that his disabilities precluded employment.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, increased evaluations for bilateral knee disabilities, and TDIU. The case is remanded for further examination of the Veteran's knees.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee instability and osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome from February 3, 2006 due to outstanding treatment records and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was denied. Appeals for increased ratings for myositis of the upper extremities were dismissed, as was the TDIU claim due to legacy appeals being dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disability due to lack of examination and further medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings and potential need for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of specific range of motion findings during flare-ups and after repetitive use, requiring further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination results and inextricability with his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees were denied as there is no objective evidence showing limitation of motion or instability that would warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.,For service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, additional development is needed as remanded by the Board.