Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act, is granted. The other issues are remanded and will be considered further.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine is being remanded due to incomplete examination findings and functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including whether it is related to her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar strain and radiculopathy disabilities was denied. The rating for the back disability remains at 20 percent, effective August 18, 2008. Separate evaluations for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, and the Board found that his competency determination did not warrant a higher rating. The appeals for service connection of right shoulder, left shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities were remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and residuals of cellulitis, right lower extremity as there is no evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent, effective June 28, 2022.,Service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies secondary to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted effective April 22, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left and right knee disabilities, and residual scar from inguinal hernia repair due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, which was initially granted in August 2020.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the development of a supplemental VA medical opinion to address both direct service connection and secondary service connection by aggravation.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the AOJ's failure to address his assertion regarding the adequacy of the 2019 VA examination, secure outstanding records from his knee treatment visits, and consider all pertinent evidence in the record.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated at a 10 percent rating for limitation of adduction, and the Board has granted this. However, ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for limitations of flexion and extension.

The Board has denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's left foot disability, finding that it does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned under DC 5284.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The left hip degenerative arthritis is not compensable, as the evidence does not show any functional loss due to pain or other symptoms. Ratings for right hip disability are also denied, with no limitation of extension found and flexion limited at 90 degrees. A chest scar has no associated underlying soft tissue damage or disabling effects. Bilateral hearing loss is also not compensable.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is not due to his service-connected conditions, but rather to non-service connected disabilities like Parkinson's disease. As a result, the claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service connected. The ratings for her knee and ankle disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis due to new and material evidence. However, further clarification is needed regarding which joints are affected by osteoarthritis and whether these conditions may be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to the need for updated VA examinations of the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities.