Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's spine and extremity disabilities are being remanded for additional medical opinions to address the severity of his conditions, particularly during flare-ups or with repeated use.,The Veteran's skin disability is also being remanded due to unclear onset and systemic therapy status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated with a 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis. The VA has granted separate ratings of 10 percent and 20 percent for limitation of extension and moderate instability, respectively.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot and right ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are causally related to his active-duty service.,Service connection was denied for bilateral cataracts and lattice degeneration (eye conditions) and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her in-service symptoms and continuous post-service treatment. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for upper and lower back disabilities, but remanded the claims for first rib disability, right shoulder disability, and neck disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected asthma.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative arthritis and spondylosis, is granted due to its manifestation within one year of separation from active duty.,Service connection for scoliosis of the lumbar spine requires further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection. The increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 30 percent, but the Board has granted a 60 percent rating for each knee starting from October 1, 2019. The case is remanded due to issues with entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine with thoracic spine strain, bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and chronic epididymitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to April 15, 2011 did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has ordered the case remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica. The issues of increased ratings remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right great toe disability is causally related to his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his service connection claims for right hip osteoarthritis, limitation of motion, and limitation of extension. The effective date currently assigned is June 13, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service. The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine and tension headaches, along with lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, prevented her from securing or following substantially gainful employment outside of a protected environment. The Board granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis effective December 20, 2023.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's petitions to reopen the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and right ankle have also been granted.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for lumbago, bilateral pes planus, and right knee osteoarthritis have been denied due to failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.