Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to inconsistencies in medical evidence regarding the Veteran's left shoulder and back disabilities, as well as issues related to TDIU prior to May 31, 2022.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, with the left knee also receiving a separate rating for cartilage damage. The appeals for increased ratings have been denied.

The Veteran's entitlement to a compensable disability rating prior to February 7, 2019 for his scar of the left ring finger is denied. The Veteran's entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent from February 7, 2019 for his painful scar of the left ring finger is granted. Service connection for lumbar spine disability secondary to service-connected right ankle disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder disability, as well as his TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The reasons include failure to attend scheduled VA examinations and lack of sufficient information regarding current severity of the disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether his joint pain is due to an undiagnosed illness or environmental exposure during service and whether he has a medically unexplained multisymptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right thumb degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral shoulders and coronary artery disease have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee, right elbow, and low back disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide releases for non-VA care providers and obtain any relevant records from VA.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion. The Veteran's MOS as an indirect fire infantryman may have contributed to his current knee conditions.

The Veteran's aching of muscles, bones, and joints are being remanded for further evaluation due to the presence of multiple joint pain (polyarthralgia) with associated muscular pain generalized distribution and bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary as there is a plausible nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need to obtain a death certificate or other credible/official information confirming the Veteran's passing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain, finding that his symptoms were not related to his military service and attributing them to diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD with a link to an in-service stressor.,An initial rating of 60 percent from June 20, 2006 to February 25, 2011 for right hip severe degenerative arthritis was granted. The disability had significant pain and weakness, limiting the Veteran's ability to perform basic activities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left knee ACL tear with patellofemoral pain syndrome from November 10, 2016 are being remanded due to a lack of compliance with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by abdominal discomfort and diarrhea is granted. Ratings of 20 percent are assigned for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee instability, and right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeal for osteoarthritis and sleep apnea has been dismissed as he opted into the modernized appeals system (AMA). The Board lacks jurisdiction under the legacy system.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current condition and his period of service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted due to in equipoise evidence supporting its relationship with service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The lumbar spine and knee disabilities received the lowest possible rating, while lichen planus was rated at 10 percent.