Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for any relevant private treatment records and worker's compensation records.

The Veteran's bowel dysfunction is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of incontinence severe enough to necessitate wearing a pad or extensive leakage with fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements.,The Veteran has been found unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded nine issues related to service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis. The Veteran's in-service stressors include exposure to the noise of cannon fire and guard duty.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle primary osteoarthritis, finding that it had its onset during active duty due to marching in ill-fitting boots.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical segmental dysfunction and left ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of these conditions having onset during service. The claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for back strain was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the left and right knees is related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since the initial injury in 1974.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since the initial injury in 1973.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection based on new and relevant evidence. The issue of entitlement to service connection is remanded due to insufficient VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and a TDIU is granted for the period prior to October 4, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection awards of cervical spine disability and RUE radiculopathy have been denied.,The Veteran's initial claim for a cervical spine disability was filed on December 9, 2016. The Board found that the date of entitlement arose prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his right hand condition, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and neck disability. The VA must obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a right thumb injury is denied. Separate ratings are granted for limitation of motion of the right index and long fingers, as well as noncompensable ratings for painful and weakened motion of the right ring and little fingers.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and needs further clarification on whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to the removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Board has found insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his service. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DDD are granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence that was added to the Veteran's file, and a new VA back examination is needed to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar retrolisthesis L5-S1 with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA's regulatory definition.,Service connection for a left hand condition, including the left pinky finger, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis and no link to service.,Service connection for lumbago with mild osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (back condition) is granted as it is related to his service-connected left knee DJD.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is granted as it is also related to his service-connected left knee DJD.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a left hip disability. The claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions rather than presumptive exposure or secondary to another condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty and TDIU prior to January 10, 2022.