Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities, effective June 1, 2011.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left arm radiculopathy, right arm radiculopathy, and neurogenic bladder disability are all granted with specific ratings. The effective date for service connection of the left arm radiculopathy is set at August 19, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded due to a need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, right ankle disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence from a previous VA examination, and the Veteran needs to be provided with a new one.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left hip, as there was no issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing whether he is entitled to noncompensable ratings for limited flexion and adduction/abduction.

The Board has remanded the claims for left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist conditions due to inadequate information provided by the VA examiner in previous opinions. The Veteran's statements of continuity of symptoms since service are considered credible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA ankle examination to determine appropriate ratings for her foot conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Veteran's back disability was granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective November 27, 2019. The appellant is eligible for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the April 2022 decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied these claims.,The Veteran's headaches are remanded for an addendum opinion to address whether they are caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings on multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, cervical degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right thumb disability and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the current 10% rating adequately reflects the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and hypertension due to further development being required. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, left wrist strain with degenerative arthritis, and left knee strain. The conditions are found to be related to service based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms in-service and their persistence since then.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disability. The examiner needs to consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's self-reporting and private medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and right and left leg radiculopathy due to inadequate consideration of retroactive range of motion studies and the ameliorative effects of medications.