Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions with associated radiculopathies, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, tinnitus, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right Achilles tendonitis, left and right lower extremity varicose veins, right thumb arthritis, right ear hearing loss, hemangioma of the left scalp, left thigh meralgia paresthetica, right foot metatarsophalangeal arthritis, and right foot scar, are found to be sufficiently severe to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 30, 2011 to June 28, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to address the issues of a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability and a temporary total evaluation following his November 10, 2021, right knee surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to a back injury during active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran's current right and left ankle conditions are related to his service, including any in-service injuries. The tinea manuum case is also being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for osteoarthritis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for a left wrist disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's GERD and cervical spine degenerative arthritis were found to not meet the criteria for higher ratings prior to August 19, 2022. The thoracolumbar strain was also found not to meet the criteria for a higher rating as of that date.,Further examination is needed to determine if there are any additional symptoms or functional limitations that warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative arthritis, finding no evidence of chronic in-service disease or injury that led to current disability. The Board also found no credible continuity of symptomatology since service and concluded that any current degenerative arthritis is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not undergo right knee surgery or immobilization by cast in 2017 or 2019, or at any other time during the period on appeal. The claims for temporary 100 percent ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.,The Board will address the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, neck disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and incomplete record. The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral shoulder disorder is now pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner for the negative nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The case is now being sent back for further examination and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's high cholesterol is not a disability for which service connection can be granted. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected back disability due to inadequate examination findings and incomplete responses. The Veteran needs additional VA treatment records from July 2017 to the present, and a clarifying opinion from the August 2020 examiner regarding pain severity and functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, asbestosis, and lung disability/COPD. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle degenerative arthritis as secondary to her service-connected knees and spine. However, the claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether her service-connected conditions have aggravated her current ankle conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder should be remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of all relevant diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to the need for VA examination reports and Social Security Administration records.