Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that his current condition is not related to active service.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lichen planus and hemorrhoids are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20 percent since June 1, 2015. The rating for the back disability remains denied.

PTSD and allergic rhinitis have been granted with specific ratings.,Migraines, eczema (claimed as skin condition), sleep apnea, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remain pending issues.

The Veteran's left knee disability, rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260 for degenerative arthritis, is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since November 6, 2018. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from that date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis are all remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence was received. The claim is now considered granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, particularly from the Columbia VAMC and Orlando VAMC. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for private treatment records.

The Veteran's back disability and sciatica are not service-connected as they did not originate in or until years after service, and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,The Veteran's left eye and right eye disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his active duty.

The Veteran's right knee disability, claimed as degenerative arthritis of the right knee, is not service-connected.,The Veteran's sinusitis with epistaxis (claimed as nose bleeds) does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6510.,The Veteran's environmental allergies do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes related to allergic rhinitis.,Prior to November 5, 2020, the Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. From November 5, 2020 onwards, he is granted a 30 percent disability rating for his headaches.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent from October 28, 2019 to November 1, 2022. The VA increased the rating to 100 percent effective November 2, 2022.,SMC was granted for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities from December 2, 2020 to November 1, 2022.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent since July 21, 2022. The rating remains denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely due to age-related degeneration and post-military trauma, rather than his military service.

The Veteran's hip and knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased disability ratings are all set to June 21, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right wrist is being remanded due to inadequate prior examinations and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, right knee status post total knee arthroscopic repair, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, IVDS of the spine and lumbosacral strain, tinnitus, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, osteoarthritis of the left ankle, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left knee, and rheumatoid arthritis (indicated by pes planus), render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various orthopedic disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the functional impact of flare-ups during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, right hand, right wrist, right foot, and left foot.