Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's low back pain, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, is granted service connection. Service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and determination of his service-connected conditions, including PTSD with depression and insomnia, degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral pes planus, left knee disorder, neck disorder, neurological disorder, diabetes mellitus type 2, and eye/vision disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left elbow disability, ulnar neuropathy and osteoarthritis. The Board found that the evidence is in favor of awarding service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and a need for retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his active service, including any potential exposure to toxic substances. The claims for hypertension, heart condition, skin condition, spinal stenosis and degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine, gastrointestinal disorders (GERD), colon polyps, and respiratory disorder are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right ankle and/or scar disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an additional VA medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of her cervical spine disability, including whether it is related to service or due to her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in its decision and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee conditions are related to service and a new medical opinion is needed due to an incorrect history in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, but no higher. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right and left knees due to their flexion and extension limitations.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and left carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right leg length shortening due to his failure to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and right knee degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is dismissed. The Board also remanded issues regarding increased ratings for service-connected back disabilities, osteoarthritis of the right hip (limitation of flexion), and osteoarthritis of the right hip (limitation of extension).

The Veteran's representative withdrew all issues on appeal in a July 2022 written statement, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate statement of reasons and bases in addressing functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis, finding that his symptoms have been continuous since he was in service and supported by medical records.

The Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected regional myofascial pain syndrome associated with degenerative arthritis of cervical spine and regional myofascial pain syndrome with residual shooting pain in the left hand, spasm and hand closure previously rated as radiculopathy LUE is restored to 30 percent effective April 1, 2018. The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his left shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, was denied. The decision found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.