Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected left knee disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back condition due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his ongoing pain since service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all remaining issues.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding her claimed conditions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, undergo VA examinations, and have their claims re-evaluated.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left hip conditions, as they are related to service-connected knee disabilities. The VA will conduct an examination to determine if the Veteran's current hip conditions are caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including any arthritis, is related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral wrist disability and left foot disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to her active service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, specifically cervical spine condition, residuals of traumatic head injury, and tinnitus.

Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis is granted on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's claim for TDIU from July 23, 2015, is denied as the evidence does not show he was prevented from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 7, 2017 for the award of service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and metatarsalgia was denied as there is no evidence of a pre-existing implicit or explicit claim. The Board found that September 7, 2017 is the appropriate effective date.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and metatarsalgia was denied as there is no evidence to support a higher rating. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right lower extremity disorder, and left lower extremity disorder. Service connection was granted for a headache disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in a previous medical opinion and needs further clarification on whether the Veteran's current foot disabilities are related to his military service, as well as if they are aggravated by any of his multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral wrist osteoarthritis is remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded for further evaluation to determine the appropriate rating.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to June 29, 2013.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis and IVDS, LLE and RLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and LLE and RLE femoral nerve radiculopathy are granted with specific ratings. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot hallux valgus, and lumbar spine scar is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a back disability due to new evidence being added to the claims file during a period when it was not allowed. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the spine is supported by VA treatment records and lay statements, but a medical opinion is needed to determine if this condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of cervical strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (right finger condition), left finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (left finger condition), right wrist rheumatoid arthritis (right wrist condition), left wrist rheumatoid arthritis (left wrist condition), left ankle condition, cardiac condition, and skin condition have been remanded for further evaluation.