Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 11, 2017. The Board found that the evidence showed he was unable to work due to his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and other conditions.

The Veteran's chest pain and left knee disabilities have been reopened, with service connection granted for both conditions.,Service connection has also been established for right elbow and left elbow disabilities, as well as obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's right hip disability, which includes a resurfacing arthroplasty, is rated at 50 percent since the effective date of his claim. The rating reflects moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left knee replacement and arthritis are not service-connected, but the Board has reopened his claim for a right knee condition.,Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's service-connected dental disorder, left hip degenerative arthritis (limited flexion), and right hip degenerative arthritis are denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for these conditions have also been denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since April 17, 2018, based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to work in any substantially gainful capacity.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, limited flexion, and meniscal impairment. The rating of 20 percent after April 27, 2022, for limited extension is also granted.

The Veteran's knee and spine conditions are remanded for further examination. His respiratory, heart, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities are also remanded due to the similar nature of the issues.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been granted. The remaining issues, including right knee disability, left foot disability, and tingling skin of the left knee and leg, are being remanded for further evaluation.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, leading to their grant. However, additional evaluations are needed to determine service connection for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for clarification of the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current low back disorder. The claim will be re-adjudicated after obtaining additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current diagnosed conditions, but the VA examiner did not address the Veteran's lay statements and self-reported symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.,No current diagnoses or functional impairments were found for some of the claimed conditions, leading to denial of service connection.

The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy is granted with a 40 percent disability rating. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine to include IVDS and TDIU prior to June 13, 2021 are both remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability, including arthritis. The Veteran needs a new examination and medical opinion to determine the etiology of his disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis were previously rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to December 24, 2020. As of December 24, 2020, his disability was rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory disability, left knee instability with degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis have been granted. The decision also remanded the claim for nosebleeds of the left nostril.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for degenerative osteophytes of the lumbosacral spine and initial rating for osteoarthritis of the right hip is being remanded due to new evidence from a recent hip replacement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder and left knee injuries due to new evidence submitted by VA, but not reviewed by the AOJ. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for review.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development of the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis. The matter will be readjudicated after all requested development has been completed.