Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bursitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical strain is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis with strain of the lumbar spine is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the assignment of a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate examination in January 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service due to the presumption under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and spondylosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are all rated as they were originally. The issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is remanded due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, status post total knee replacement, is granted. The Board found that the current disability is related to an in-service parachute jump injury.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral leg condition, right foot condition, hepatitis C, and right knee osteoarthritis were dismissed. The appeal for service connection for lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy and myositis ossificans of the right thigh (right hip/thigh condition) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical opinions on secondary service connection claims and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and extraschedular consideration are also being remanded.

The claim of service connection for hearing loss is denied.,The claims of effective date earlier than June 17, 2017, for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome are both denied.,The claim of a rating higher than 70 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic attacks is denied.,The claim of an earlier effective date for the grant of 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic attacks is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for unspecified insomnia disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating. The claim for TDIU from March 1, 2019 forward was granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for both conditions were inadequate and remanded to obtain further opinions. The Veteran's claims for right knee condition and left foot degenerative arthritis are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of June 20, 2015.,Prior to June 20, 2015, the Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, initial ratings greater than 10 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities, as well as initial ratings greater than 10 percent for left and right knee joint osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's left hip condition is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The skin conditions of the left and right calves are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability or other basis for service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, rated at 10 percent, did not present with marked limitation of motion or ankylosis. The Board denied a higher rating as the current symptoms do not warrant such a rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected left knee scar has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than October 26, 2017, for service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and left knee scar have also been denied.,The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to insufficient examination of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims for increased ratings due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosed conditions are related to her active duty service.