Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TBI, HTN, bilateral hip and back disabilities, bilateral foot disability, and left elbow disability due to conflicting medical opinions and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IVDS, left ankle cyst, and TBI were all granted. However, the claim for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity was denied, as was the claim for degenerative arthritis of the back.,A remand has been ordered for a cervical radiculopathy claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was reduced from 30% to 20%, effective August 28, 2019. The appeal for restoration of the 30% rating is granted. The claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including effective dates and ratings for shoulder and ankle conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on need for aid and attendance was granted. The appeal regarding TDIU from May 27, 2009 to September 18, 2011 was granted. The appeal regarding an effective date prior to September 19, 2011 for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected COPD with asthma and residual status post broken ribs is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left shoulder disability, including posttraumatic degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus granting the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to insufficient evidence and failure to obtain VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide information about all medical providers who have treated him, including any VA records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine if her current conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disc disease, finding that symptoms began in service and have been continuous since separation.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from May 30, 2015, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied an increased rating for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not warrant a higher rating prior to May 23, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's lumbar strain was granted a 40 percent rating prior to February 15, 2022 and denied any higher rating thereafter.,The Veteran's right shoulder strain was granted a 40 percent rating. The left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis were both remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a recurrent right shoulder disability due to inadequate VA examination and missing service treatment records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The appeal is now pending for further development and evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his obstructive sleep apnea. The VA needs to obtain a more detailed medical opinion on these issues.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the entire period prior to December 17, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities making it at least as likely as not that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional medical opinions.