Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is rated at 40 percent disabling beginning April 19, 2022. The coccyx fracture residuals are rated as a compensable 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities are not related to his active service, including as residuals of a frostbite injury. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient retroactive assessment of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from January 20, 2010 through January 8, 2014. The examiner is required to provide a retroactive assessment including measurements of active motion, passive motion, and pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI or acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of such disabilities during his active duty.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and radiculopathy, right lower extremity, sciatic nerve were also denied due to lack of supporting medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's OSA is related to service, neuropathy of the upper extremities and back disability are being examined again, and a full accounting of his treatment records from Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany must be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the service connection for a low back disability, specifically regarding whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected bilateral knee strain. The Veteran's representative and VA Office of the General Counsel filed a Joint Motion to Remand (JMR) which vacated the May 2021 decision as it pertained to this issue.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased evaluation for residuals of a left ankle sprain and service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to March 25, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent from March 25, 2022, for service-connected lumbosacral strain with scoliosis now with degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome (previously rated as lumbosacral strain with scoliosis) was denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted. Her claims for service connection for a neck disability are remanded.,The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 25, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent from March 25, 2022, due to lack of incapacitating episodes or limitation of motion. The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a neck disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is reopened, and he is granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.,The Veteran's right shoulder subacromial impingement syndrome with SLAP labral tear and degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran is also granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee effective April 30, 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to military service and awarding him a rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions regarding whether his left knee disorder was incurred during service. The VA needs to obtain relevant records and provide a clarifying opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left shoulder conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her diagnosed shoulder disorders, which include impingement and degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, but denied reopening of the hypertension rating claim. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination for the hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disability and service connection for a skin rash due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations to assess the severity of his knee condition and determine if his skin rash is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his left shoulder disorder and the current severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee meniscal tear residuals with osteoarthritis is denied as an effective date prior to August 22, 2016, cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the September 2014 rating decision is not final and the Veteran's claims have been on appeal since then. The Board finds that a remand is warranted for addendum VA opinions to address whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or tinnitus, as well as an addendum VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are related to his in-service jeep accident. The AOJ should also attempt to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including his testimony at a hearing and a medical opinion from a VA provider. The RO is instructed to obtain additional STRs and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for issues related to surgical scars post bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy and service connection for a left arm condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for shoulder disabilities, inguinal hernia, pes planus, and leg conditions are remanded for further development.