Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to a back injury he sustained during active duty for training in May 1991, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee instability and meniscal condition, have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 3, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's left leg disorder, including whether any preexisting condition was aggravated by service or related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected back disability was withdrawn by the Veteran through his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred as a result of active duty service and is not presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection for the left knee disability is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and potential inextricably intertwined issues. The claims will be addressed again after additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscus injury residuals, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and is more likely proximate to a non-service-related motor vehicle accident.

The Board has granted service connection for back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's current disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 100%.,For the scars secondary to left ankle degenerative arthritis, the claim is denied as there is no evidence that they are painful or unstable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome status post rotator cuff tear with AC joint osteoarthritis are remanded due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA's prior decisions regarding the Veteran's right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and dislocation are not fully supported by the evidence, necessitating further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions that did not consider the Veteran's reported symptoms and history.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for left knee disability, including his claimed osteoarthritis. The decision is pending further investigation and examination.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee patellar subluxation/dislocation is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete VA treatment records, including from his service period. The case will be reviewed with a focus on obtaining updated medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current knee conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current back and neck disability is related to his in-service complaints of back pain. The examiner must provide an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and related conditions, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate that he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's back and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, are granted service connection. A rating of 20 percent is granted for his right ankle disability.

The Board has denied service connection for ulcerative colitis and right wrist degenerative arthritis. The case is remanded to obtain a proper VA examination for the left wrist.,Service connection for ulcerative colitis was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of groin surgery, headache disability, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been granted.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is also granted.