Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left knee traumatic arthritis with internal derangement, limitation of flexion, is rated at 10 percent and denied an evaluation in excess of this.,The Veteran's left knee traumatic arthritis with internal derangement, limitation of extension, is rated at 0 percent and denied a compensable initial evaluation.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with internal derangement, limitation of flexion, is rated at 10 percent and denied an evaluation in excess of this.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with internal derangement, limitation of extension, is rated at 0 percent and denied a compensable initial evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as the appeal is moot due to his death.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to March 26, 2009, for the grant of service connection for cervical spondylosis with minor canal stenosis and minor cord compression with degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his neck disability remains pending. His eligibility for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received after a prior final denial. The Veteran's right knee disorders are currently being reviewed on their merits, with an emphasis on determining whether they are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for breast cancer and degenerative arthritis, unspecified due to potential service connection based on exposure to burn pits during her Gulf War service. The VA will obtain additional service personnel records and conduct medical examinations to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left wrist disabilities, as well as his right ankle disability prior to September 21, 2021, were denied. A separate rating of 10 percent was granted for right ankle instability beginning January 25, 2016.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for right knee osteoarthritis to left knee strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for HIV related illnesses is remanded due to new symptoms reported at his hearing.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation.

Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted. The appeals concerning right upper extremity tremors, left upper extremity tremors, traumatic brain injury, cognitive issues (secondary to traumatic brain injury), and cervical spine disorder (secondary to traumatic brain injury) are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a finding that his current condition had onset in or was otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, began during service and has continued since then. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a signed February 2022 Appeals Satisfaction Notice.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is attributable to active service and has been granted service connection.,The Veteran's bilateral foot osteoarthritis is attributable to service and has been granted service connection.,The Veteran does not have hemorrhoids that are attributable to service, resulting in denial of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history during the appeal period, despite meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability and has remanded the issue of TDIU. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific issues decided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to new evidence received since his previous denial. His prior claim for pinched sciatic nerve in leg was denied, but he has submitted new medical evidence supporting a current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and knee conditions, make it impossible for her to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes with total duration of at least one week during the past 12 months.