Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease is granted. The claim for a skin condition of the bilateral hands is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the back, and PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her VA treatment records, as well as requests for private medical records. The initial rating for LUE nerve disability remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an increased rating of service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar DJD due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between her current condition and active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, mild hypertrophic facet arthrosis of the lower lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The claims are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 8, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee, with chondromalacia, was denied. A separate 20 percent rating was granted for a right knee disability with cartilage dislocated and episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to service and if his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left hip degenerative arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis due to potential aggravation by his service-connected bilateral knee condition. The VA is required to provide a new opinion addressing whether these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and right hip degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including memory loss and MDD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, degenerative arthritis of the spine, right leg arthritis, and left leg arthritis. The Veteran's STRs do not contain any complaints or treatments related to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his abdominal pain, which may be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including instability and degenerative arthritis, are rated at 20 percent each since June 8, 2022. Separate ratings of 20 percent for instability of the left and right knees have also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and intervertebral disc syndrome had its onset in service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. The claims of service connection for right knee, bilateral hips, and bilateral shoulders disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's back condition is granted as service connected. The Board found that the persistent observable symptoms of back pain since service supported a causal link to his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that her range of motion did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on functional loss due to flare-ups or other factors.