Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience during the period on appeal prior to October 1, 2016. Therefore, TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to failure to comply with prior remand directives and issues related to VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder based on limited range of motion, left knee disability based on limitation of motion, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.

The Veteran's request for an extended temporary total rating based on convalescence for right foot disability from April 1, 2013 to August 27, 2014 was denied.,The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left facial and ear numbness and eye lid symptoms due to a VA procedure in July 2012 was denied.,The Veteran's request for an increased disability rating for his left foot disability from May 1, 2016 onward was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD prior to May 8, 2017 was denied.,The Veteran's request for TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities prior to May 8, 2017 was granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a nexus between his current bilateral hearing loss and his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and back disability, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability due to incomplete development and unclear findings regarding atrophy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was reopened, and he is now granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee. His left knee disabilities are also rated as per his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective June 26, 2019.,Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's new and material evidence has reopened the claim, but service connection remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, claimed as degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis and neck condition, is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and nerve damage, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic disease in service or continuous symptoms since service separation. The current diagnoses of spondylolisthesis, stenosis, degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and IVDS were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate information regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically instability and range of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain and lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to military noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim due to inadequate examinations in previous years. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's left elbow disability, characterized by limitation of extension and flexion, is currently rated at 10% under the criteria for minor extremity disabilities. The claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected.,Anxiety disorder was initially granted a 30% rating from October 3, 2018 to December 24, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 19, 2020.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal on the issues of service connection for left elbow osteoarthritis, right ankle disorder, and sinusitis. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service symptoms and continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining new VA opinions to address the conceded in-service radiation exposure and articles submitted by the appellant. The remanded issues are: Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Kidney Disability, Lung Disability, and Osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability effective August 8, 2022. The Veteran's right knee symptoms and functional impairment associated with instability most closely approximate moderate instability.