Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and back disability due to inadequate VA examinations and missing medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are believed to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, and the cause of death due to esophageal adenocarcinoma. The claim for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obesity and her claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for service-connected allergic rhinitis and right hip osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and examination, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral sprain with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral 5th toe hammertoes and pes planus, as well as conditions of other toes. The case is remanded to obtain an examination addressing the disability picture before February 28, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate examination findings and need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to his military service and have granted service connection for both left and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with associated radiculopathy.,The cause of the Veteran's death (chronic respiratory failure, acute on chronic diastolic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and cirrhosis) is not considered to be related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right hip disabilities due to new evidence received since the July 2011 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is at least approximate balance of evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service injury and current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total replacement with degenerative arthritis, is rated at 60 percent effective January 17, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip osteoarthritis and left knee instability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have precluded her from securing and maintaining a gainful employment as of December 19, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to unresolved issues regarding his character of service, which must be addressed before considering the merits of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 30, 2020. The case is remanded for consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to assess his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of increased evaluations and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, including range of motion measurements. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no remaining case or controversy regarding the issue of service connection for a left knee disorder.