Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee conditions and left hip disability, as well as whether these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left knee, right knee, left ankle, sleep disturbances (including sleep apnea), left shoulder osteoarthritis, PTSD, and hypothyroidism. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to in-service parachute jumps or undiagnosed illnesses/chronic multisymptom illnesses, as well as considering the impact of obesity caused by service-connected disabilities on his current symptoms.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating will be remanded so that addendum opinions can address the issues raised by the Board.

The Veteran's left ankle osteoarthritis with anterior and lateral instability has been rated at 20 percent effective February 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to issues with scheduling VA examinations in Iwakuni City, Japan. The Veteran was not properly notified of examination arrangements.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective date for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are still pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip condition, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The evidence shows that the Veteran's current left hip osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases of left hip arthritis and PTSD for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, and knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing direct service connection.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for service-connected lumbar spine strain is granted prior to October 20, 2022. The claim for higher ratings and service connection are all denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain with degenerative changes and thoracolumbar spine strain, sacral strain with degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 20% and 40%, respectively. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for insomnia disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the cases of degenerative arthritis of the right fifth metacarpal and status post right fourth metacarpal fracture, indicating that a new VA examination should be scheduled to assess their current severity.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic paranoid schizophrenia is denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD, variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders (to include PTSD), right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an upper extremity disability and a bilateral eye disability with headaches, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be related to the current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to incomplete VA examinations, specifically regarding instability of the Veteran's right and left ankle joints and right knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her kidney disability, right knee disability, and thyroid disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as he did not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.,Petitions to revise previous rating decisions based on CUE were dismissed without prejudice. The effective dates of service connection awards were also dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right foot, as well as left and right knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examination to determine their current severity.

Your claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis as secondary to your service-connected post-surgical degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted. The effective date is May 1, 2016.

Service connection for left hand disability is granted, and the effective date of service connection for left knee mild osteoarthritis and right wrist tendonitis is set at May 20, 2015.