Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran experienced incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a doctor due to his low back condition, and to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a clinical opinion regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the veracity of the Veteran's lay reports and the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his back disability, including whether he suffers from any neurologic symptoms related thereto.

The Veteran's right little finger degenerative arthritis is characterized by noncompensable limitation of motion with pain, and the claim for a compensable rating has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU based on extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of right knee joint osteoarthritis, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a failure by the Regional Office to properly assist in developing his service connection claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and unit histories. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis based on a finding of chronic disease presumptive under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) due to continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's cause of death was intracerebral hemorrhage and hypertension. The Board finds a VA medical opinion is necessary to determine if his service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his death.

The appeal of the cervical spine disability claim is dismissed. The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to May 7, 2017, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was granted with an effective date of December 8, 2005. The decision is based on the submission of relevant official service department records that were not previously part of the claims file at the time of the initial denial in February 2006.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate 20 percent rating for right knee based on instability since July 6, 2018 is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran needs a new one to assess his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left leg numbness secondary to back is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain (C6-7) claimed as cervical disc degeneration is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error prior to the rating decision on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis (claimed as chronic low back pain) is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error prior to the rating decision on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient notice and potential need for a medical examination, as some service records are unavailable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to duty-to-assist errors in the rating of his right knee disability and service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis. The claims for bilateral ankle condition and bilateral flat feet and plantar fasciitis are remanded due to procedural errors in the VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical back condition, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, bilateral feet degenerative arthritis, and bilateral hand degenerative arthritis due to missing records from his Army Reserve service. The RO is instructed to verify any reserve service with NPRC and Army Reserve Personnel Center, obtain all relevant service treatment records, and seek out any outstanding VA or private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings in several conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn all his pending appeals.