Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen her claims.,The Veteran is still required to provide additional evidence to substantiate her claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his lumbar spine disorder is granted from March 31, 2014. The Board has remanded the claims for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee limitation of extension due to inadequate medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeals of his ratings and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals in July 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of residuals of an insect bite, gastrointestinal disability characterized by abdominal pains, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, respiratory disability, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and increased rating for chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis of the right knee have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left foot degenerative arthritis, and hallux valgus due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a knee disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by his lumbar spine disability. The case requires further examination and opinion to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's current knee conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his tinnitus claim is dismissed. His vertigo and back condition are granted with service connection, but the multiple joint pain claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to procedural errors in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected post traumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis of both knees due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address knee instability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathies have been withdrawn. The claims for hypertension, low back disability (lumbar degenerative arthritis), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, and respiratory condition have all been granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder condition, right knee condition, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are being remanded. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher. His PTSD claim remains denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for right knee instability and left knee instability, resolving the Veteran's appeal on these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist. The Board needs clarification on the extent of functional impairment caused by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right hip disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is also established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records.,The Board is unable to proceed with these matters until all necessary steps have been taken to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), and right knee arthritis. The conditions are deemed related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left hip disabilities have been denied as the medical evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his conditions prior to December 12, 2016, or in excess of 30 percent after that date. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate explanation of the duty to assist and potential overlap between service-connected right elbow disability and non-service-connected CIDP and IBM.