Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mood disorder is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and left knee strain.

The appeals concerning dizziness, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral orbital pseudotumor as secondary to the service-connected disability of migraine and mixed headache disorder, restless leg syndrome, left hip condition, right hip condition, and right shoulder condition have been dismissed.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU rating for PTSD is granted, and his PTSD rating is also granted at 70 percent. The left forearm disability is rated at 50 percent due to ankylosis of the elbow joint, and the left elbow arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand requires additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's nasal disorder, sleep apnea, neck disorder, low back disorder, bilateral lower extremity numbness (left), and left-hand disorder are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the right-hand disorder and facial/mouth injury is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right wrist osteoarthritis and tendonitis, and for issuance of an SOC regarding service connection for arthritis of the right elbow as secondary to his right wrist disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right knee chondromalacia patella and osteoarthritis was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to a need for clarification regarding the Veteran's reported symptoms and additional functional limitations. The claim is also being remanded for further development, including obtaining information about private chiropractor treatments from 2015 to 2017.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's arthritis had its onset during active duty and is related to his military service. Service connection was denied for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency due to lack of evidence showing a superimposed disability attributable to service.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis and a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability, effective May 2, 2022. Service connection was also established for right leg shin splints and left leg shin splints.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is granted service connection, while the right knee disability is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection is warranted, and therefore denied her claims. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right knee and back disorders are found to be proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the LLE is reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis are all found to be attributable to service.,Tinnitus is also found to be attributable to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for cervical strain with osteoarthritis and entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis effective September 13, 2010. The decision is based on the date of receipt of the claim and not earlier.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorders and their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's self-reported symptoms since service are at least as likely as not caused by in-service injury.