Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to errors in the decision-making process prior to the current decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate examination and failure to consider lay statements regarding symptom onset.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spondylosis is being remanded due to inadequate medical examinations and opinions, as well as potential issues related to duty to assist.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for a neck disability as it was granted in a previous decision. The claim for an increased rating for tension headaches is denied.

The Board has found that there may be outstanding VA treatment records from the Veteran's service period and remanded for their retrieval to make a fully-informed decision on his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and limitation of flexion, finding that there is a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for cellulitis of the right hip and remanded the issues regarding osteoarthritis of the right and left hips.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, cysts, acne, and coronary artery disease have been granted. The claim for degenerative arthritis (left knee osteoarthritis) is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran was granted service connection for various hip and shoulder conditions, as well as radiculopathy associated with lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, all effective December 1, 2014.,No earlier effective dates were granted due to the lack of supporting evidence in the claims file at the time of the initial rating decision.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings due to deficiencies in the VA examinations conducted in November 2018. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are being examined again to determine their current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and neck disorders due to a lack of medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's right wrist degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The issue of TDIU and initial disability ratings for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 28, 2016, for the award of service connection for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, right knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss and GERD have been dismissed.,Effective January 28, 2016, an initial rating of 30 percent for GERD has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, impingement, and rotator cuff tendinopathy and right shoulder degenerative arthritis, impingement, and rotator cuff tendinopathy. The Veteran's combined disability rating during the claim period is currently 70 percent prior to January 16, 2019 and 80 percent after that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.