Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in prior examination reports. The Veteran's right ankle and knee disabilities are being reviewed again with a focus on pain levels during range of motion testing.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected cervical spine conditions and lumbar sprain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and translation of records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss disability and right thumb disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for back disability and has determined that a new and material evidence was submitted, thus allowing him to proceed with his claim. The Board also found that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran regarding whether his current back disability had its onset during his period of INACDUTRA (inactive duty training) while serving in the military.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for his service-connected knee and hip disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records, addressing Francway request, and providing retrospective opinions regarding functional impairment.

The claim for service connection for left great toe ingrown toenail has been reopened and granted. The claims for general osteoarthritis, low back spina bifida, right hip disability, right hip shorter than left leg, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left foot arthritis, chronic congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, thyroid disability, edema, and skin irritation have all been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis were denied because she failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with RLE radiculopathy, is granted service connection. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disorder) are remanded. Service connection for psychiatric disability (secondary to lumbar spine disorder) is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip disability and remanded her bilateral foot condition claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to issues related to service connection and increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was granted. The Veteran's tinea pedis bilateral feet with onychomycosis and erythema annulare was increased to a 10 percent rating, effective April 7, 2017. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were not increased in rating.

PTSD was granted as a new finding based on new and material evidence. Residuals related to a head injury, low back condition, and right hand osteoarthritis were denied.,Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for posttraumatic osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, and back strain have been denied as there is no current disability. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been granted as presumptively related to exposure to burn pits during active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person due to functional limitations, but additional compensation under SMC(r)(1) or SMC(r)(2) is precluded as he does not meet the threshold requirement for consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis, left and right lower extremity neuropathy, erectile dysfunction (ED), right hip disability, bilateral onychomycosis, and migraine headaches have all been denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis and residuals from meniscectomy, left knee strain post patellar realignment, and GERD with IBS have been granted initial 20 percent ratings effective since the date of service discharge.

The Veteran's back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied because the Veteran does not meet VA criteria for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disabilities, including cervical spine arthritis, right hand and finger arthritis, left hand and finger arthritis, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis.,The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.