Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's dermatitis, urticaria, nonlinear deep scar secondary to circumcision surgery, painful scar secondary to circumcision surgery, and degenerative arthritis of the right elbow claims due to potential systemic therapy affecting his skin conditions. These issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected back condition and for entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected conditions. The remand is necessary because additional development, including an examination of the Veteran's back condition, is required.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus and degenerative arthritis should be rated higher than 10 percent prior to April 12, 2021, and higher than 50 percent since. However, due to incomplete records from Dr. Langford, the claim is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right hand and back conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left foot disability, finding that it is due to an in-service injury and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee meniscal tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral hearing loss. However, due to the complexity of these cases, additional development is required as they are currently being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion and instability due to inadequate reasons or bases in the previous decisions, requiring additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted TDIU effective August 27, 2020. However, the Veteran also met the schedular requirements for TDIU on September 17, 2014 to May 13, 2015. The matter is REMANDED for further development and adjudication.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as there is no evidence of instability or ankylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, back condition, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for new evaluations of his left shoulder and wrist conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, including sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, left hip disability, low back disability, and tinnitus. The Board finds the evidence in relative equipoise regarding these claims.,However, several new issues of entitlement to service connection have been identified, such as chest pain, dyspnea, right foot stress fracture, right hip disability, osteoporosis, right shoulder disability, tremors, asthma, blepharitis, lipoma of the chest, and kidney stones. These claims are currently pending for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations, as well as consideration of applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for cervical spine multilevel degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear bursitis, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, and right elbow lateral epicondylitis with degenerative joint disease and bursitis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the claims for a compensable disability rating prior to April 27, 2022, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter, for arthritis of the toes in the right foot, as well as service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis, are remanded due to inadequate examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10% from September 28, 2015, through January 9, 2018. Since January 10, 2018, a higher rating of 40% is granted for the degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The cervical spine disability remains rated at 10%. Service connection for a left pelvic condition was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back condition, right hip condition, and left hip condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's right foot disability is also granted as service-connected, but the left foot disability remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, and cervical spine were granted effective February 4, 1999.,An earlier effective date is not warranted as all claims are based on direct service connection.