Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic pain syndrome is related to his service-connected disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability but has remanded the left shoulder disability claim due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to insufficient discussion of instability and subluxation in the Veteran's knee conditions, specifically left knee osteoarthritis and right knee patellar bone spur.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to cervical spine, hip, right ankle, lumbar spine, and pulmonary disabilities due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no final decision can be made on the merits of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of recent medical examination and updated treatment records. The Veteran's disability ratings for his bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions are being reviewed.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for his back disability were partially granted, with a 40 percent rating assigned prior to February 27, 2019, and from February 27, 2019, to July 20, 2021. The claim for a higher rating after July 21, 2021, was denied. Additionally, the Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left pinky finger disability due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury and no continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease, lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, osteoporosis right knee with degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical strain was previously rated at 10 percent prior to March 17, 2017 and increased to 30 percent from that date. The claim for a higher rating is REMANDED.,The Veteran's thoracic strain has been rated at 20 percent since February 26, 2021. The claim for a higher rating is also REMANDED.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and left knee strain are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and trochanteris pain syndrome, low back strain, right hip degenerative arthritis and trochanteris pain syndrome, and left shoulder strain.,Service connection is established for the appellant's preexisting left hip disorder as aggravated by a period of ACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of cervical discectomy, a back condition (degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and residuals of lumbar laminectomy), and right foot degenerative arthritis and residuals of 3rd MTP joint surgery. The conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right ankle disability and service connection for right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now rated at a 10% disability evaluation for his degenerative arthritis of the right hand and left hand, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome in both upper extremities. The rating for his right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on need for aid and attendance is remanded due to the passage of time since his last VA examination, additional service-connected disabilities granted, and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of June 18, 2012, but not earlier, for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy was granted. The claims for increased evaluations for left knee osteoarthritis and lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding the etiology of his right knee disorders. The case is returned for further development.