Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective July 30, 2015. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with T-12 compression fracture are also granted a 40 percent rating, effective July 30, 2015.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable evaluation is not warranted.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, right lower extremity are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as zero percent disabling, and a compensable evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability and hypertension due to insufficient medical evidence regarding chronicity of the conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip conditions and a left knee condition due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.,Specifically, the right hip degenerative arthritis and residuals of status post hip joint replacement are being remanded for addendum opinions addressing whether they are related to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by moderate to marked limitation of motion, was denied for ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to September 27, 2022 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date of June 21, 2017 for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The claims are being reviewed due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for various knee conditions and instability have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability was received on January 10, 2017. The Board found that there is no evidence of increased severity during the one-year look back period prior to this date and denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and right leg pain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision also notes that the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy overlaps with his right leg pain symptoms.

The Veteran's MDD is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective April 5, 2018. The Veteran's TDIU claim for the entire period on appeal is also granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals seeking earlier effective dates for service connection of left knee, PFB, and TBI (Head injury).,The Veteran's claims for service connection of left wrist de Quervain's tenosynovitis, bilateral shin splints, and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck, low back, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise unrelated to service.,The Veteran's TMJ disorder was also denied as it is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's current neck condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities as well as his TDIU claim due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions including left hip condition, right hip condition, degenerative arthritis of the spine, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD is granted. The claim for right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis is denied. The claim for tinnitus (secondary to service-connected disability) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for status post right knee arthroscopy with residual osteoarthritis, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood), and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations for his musculoskeletal disabilities and hearing loss. The claims are also inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right hips, finding that these conditions had their onset during active duty.