Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for lower back, right knee (including degenerative arthritis), left knee, neck, right shoulder, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the VA medical opinions found no link between current disabilities and in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a retrospective VA examination to assess his left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating.,Service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Right foot condition (hammer toes and osteoarthritis) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, as well as his ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease. The issues include secondary service connection and functional limitations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he now has a combined 100% schedular rating for his service-connected conditions, including PTSD and bilateral shoulder arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and scoliosis, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis, and low back degenerative arthritis. The conditions are all related to the Veteran's in-service parachute operations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in December 2010 due to lack of nexus evidence. The Board granted the claims in April 2022, finding that the Veteran's reports regarding in-service injuries are consistent with his service record and granting a Finding of Fact that the disability is at least as likely as not related to service. However, an earlier effective date was denied because the claim was not reopened based on new and material evidence but rather due to reconsideration based on relevant service department records.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for GERD, right knee osteoarthritis, painful right knee scar, bilateral hearing loss, left thumb disability, left thumb scar, and left hip muscle strain (flexion) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 40 percent from March 17, 2004 to November 4, 2005 due to forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being 30 degrees or less. The rating is effective as of March 17, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his lumbar spine and right wrist conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis of the right wrist.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle and knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, associated with lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding no current diagnosis of LLE radiculopathy and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The case needs a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 20 percent for his right shoulder condition has been dismissed as he withdrew the claim in June 2020.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his TDIU claim and bilateral hearing loss rating were both denied. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 100% combined disability rating due to service-connected coronary artery disease, but the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on any single service-connected condition other than his coronary artery disease. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, but no higher, since December 20, 2013.,TDIU was granted from April 1, 2017, to September 12, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the appeals for service connection for various foot disabilities and a right knee disability due to lack of evidence or further development needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and right foot disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.