Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left hip ganglion cyst is granted service connection. The claim for a left hip disability other than the ganglion cyst, related to his service-connected left knee disabilities, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for phlebitis, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and claudication, chronic venous insufficiency due to unclear evidence regarding their existence at the time of filing or during the pendency of his claim. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less, which is required for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient development.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee, status-post total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the hands as there is no active appeal before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increased rating beyond 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for his lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to January 28, 2011, for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for left foot, bilateral eye, and left shoulder disorders are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records. The head injury claim is not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis and a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's back disability is congenital and not aggravated by service. Service connection was also denied for a thyroid disorder due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or within one year post-service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a pre-existing condition in his back prior to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee degenerative arthritis, right shoulder condition, lumbosacral strain (claimed as back injury), sinusitis, and left ankle condition have all been dismissed. The claim of service connection for sinusitis was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to the need for additional VA examination reports and treatment records, as well as consideration of a claim for Total Disability Rating Due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues are no longer before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis. The examiner is asked to address the Veteran's lay reports and provide a sound rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and COPD are all granted as service connected.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to assess his hip disabilities. His claim for increased hearing loss remains denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.