Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracic spine, right hip bursitis and osteoarthritis, left hip condition, hernia residuals, and MDD and other specified anxiety disorder are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence of a current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability resulted in functional equivalent of unfavorable ankylosis with abduction limited to 25 degrees from the side, warranting a 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the cervical spine claim due to inadequate opinions regarding its etiology. The Veteran's cervical spine disabilities are being reviewed again for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for hypoglycemia prior to September 28, 2012 was denied.,A disability rating of 20 percent for hypoglycemia from September 28, 2012 was granted.

Asthma was granted service connection effective March 26, 2015.,Right knee joint osteoarthritis and right wrist osteoarthritis were granted service connection effective October 3, 2014.

The Veteran's skin condition is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. The cervical and lumbar spine conditions are denied as not related to active duty, while the iron deficiency anemia claim is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's back disability, specifically during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time. The Veteran is asked to provide updated treatment records from VA and private sources.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are related to a July 1990 injury during active training duty.

The Board dismissed all the claims as they are related to a deceased Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted. The initial evaluations for right knee osteoarthritis and right ear hearing loss are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for generalized osteoarthritis and numbness of the hands due to insufficient development, including obtaining addendum VA opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, were evaluated based on their current manifestations. The Board denied higher ratings for these conditions as they did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder (degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and Crohn's disease have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has not met the threshold to establish current hearing loss 'disability' as required by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, osteoarthritis of the right hand, and osteoarthritis of the left hand have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lumbosacral spine disability and increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis due to additional evidence being added to his case file.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability has been granted a 40 percent rating, effective from May 8, 2017. The other conditions have also received increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are granted a 50% disability rating from September 25, 2015. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU effective from the date of his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hand and foot disabilities to include rheumatoid arthritis due to incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran served in Southwest Asia, where he was exposed to burn pit toxins.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that her current symptoms are related to in-service neck injuries and resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.