Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including an in-service injury while lifting weights.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and for entitlement to TDIU due to her service-connected disability. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and completing VA forms.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for inflammatory polyarthritis, secondary to his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder (also claimed as IBS), has also been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and osteoarthritis in the left great toe. The stomach disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence of direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right index finger degenerative arthritis, right middle finger degenerative arthritis, and right thumb degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right sciatic radiculopathy, left knee degenerative arthritis, and major depressive disorder are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine and sleep apnea, as well as his claim for TDIU. The Board found that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between the claimed conditions and service or any other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome and degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal as to whether these conditions were incurred in or caused by his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by a VA examiner. The Veteran contends that his current knee disabilities are related to his active duty service, including boot camp and marching duties.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and left knee disability have been remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether his disabilities are secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right hips, as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The remand is due to an inadequate etiology opinion in October 2021.

The Veteran's left leg disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's back disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar osteoarthritis and osteopenia, finding that the current GERD is proximately due to the medications used to treat his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically concerning the point at which pain begins during range of motion and during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified bipolar disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to August 13, 2019 remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal as to the claims of service connection for right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals as to the claim of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, Raynaud's disease prior to September 21, 2016, Raynaud's disease from September 21, 2016, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current condition is not related to active service or a service-connected disability.