Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 1, 2017 to May 16, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and bilateral degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's appeal, including a new examination for his right knee disability and consideration of instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address the severity of the disability since September 28, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD and low back disability have been granted with a 100% rating, effective July 23, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, while his low back disability was service-connected due to its onset during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate assessments of functional loss during flare-ups in prior examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of his diagnoses and symptoms, as well as obtaining a new examination. The issue remains about determining if he should receive a compensable disability rating for his service-connected left knee meniscal tear.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The dental condition for compensation purposes issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are being remanded for additional development to assess the extent of range of motion loss due to flare-ups and repeated use.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to February 28, 2017 for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases regarding initial ratings and service connection due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory disorder, and low back disorder due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the previous remand.

The Veteran's right fourth finger and right shoulder disabilities are granted as related to active duty service.,His hiatal hernia is also granted, with the rating assigned based on his existing GERD condition.

The Veteran's neck condition, left ankle condition, and hemorrhoids have all been granted service connection. The neck condition was reopened after new evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities have been granted. His left foot disability has also been increased to a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis, as well as her bilateral knee osteoarthritis, have been granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to their manifestation within one year of separation from active service.,Service connection for uterine fibroids with myomectomy has not been established.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and determination of the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left foot disabilities, including whether they are congenital defects or diseases aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition and granted it, finding that his current diagnoses of right knee meniscal tear, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and osteoarthritis are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected comminuted fracture right tibia and fibula.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis are granted. Claims for diverticulitis, diabetes mellitus, flat feet (pes planus), traumatic brain injury, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep apnea, hypertension, a right-hand condition, a left-hand condition, TBI residuals of headaches, loss of taste and smell, and dizziness are denied. The Veteran is granted a 10 percent disability rating for TMJ prior to November 18, 2020.