Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to rhinitis. The issues of evaluating the Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee conditions have been denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran's symptoms and limitations.

Your claim for service connection for right ankle dislocation has been granted, and you are now rated at 20% for the condition. The issue is no longer pending as it was resolved in a January 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and a history of partial meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD was granted. The issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for headaches, left shoulder DJD and tendonitis, osteoarthritis and chondromalacia of the left knee, and osteoarthritis and chondromalacia of the right knee are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, including a right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis and residuals of a right ankle injury. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury during active duty and his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and OSA due to conflicting opinions from previous examiners. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU which is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right foot disorder has been reopened. His bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service. The claims for back disability and right foot disorder are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as he did not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran did not have anatomical loss or use of both feet, nor was he blind in both eyes, permanently bedridden, or so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left hip, and left shoulder conditions have been granted. The claim for service connection for lumbar spine condition has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and ilio-tibial band syndrome of the left knee have been dismissed as the Veteran's representative has withdrawn from appellate review.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and meniscus tears, are rated at the maximum available under current VA regulations. The appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease with left radiculopathy of the lumbar spine are granted as service connected. The issue of a cervical strain with radiculopathy (claimed as a neck condition) is remanded, and the TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the knees and ankles have been granted. The claim for asbestosis has been denied.,Service connection is now established for CHF.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions on functional loss.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted based on his testimony of worsening symptoms since his last VA examination. The case is being remanded to schedule a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence collection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the current degenerative arthritis was not present during or within one year after service and is unrelated to any in-service event.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied, and his claim for a 10 percent evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy from October 1, 2010, was granted. The decision does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a failure to schedule VA examinations as directed in previous remands. The Veteran is advised that if a VA examination is scheduled, a failure to report may result in denial of his claims.