Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and non-VA treatment records. The Veteran's cause of death is being evaluated to determine if his service-connected conditions contributed to or caused his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis has been reopened and granted.,Service connection was denied for left knee degenerative arthritis, but the claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board denied service connection for a degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or chronic symptoms since service separation. The claim for entitlement to TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is warranted for the entire rating period prior to January 16, 2020.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 40 percent rating, but his left lower extremity radiculopathy and back disability ratings remain remanded for further evaluation. The SMC claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears with degenerative arthritis.,The Board has also granted service connection for these conditions on a causation basis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased ratings for right upper extremity RSD and right wrist disability, as well as TDIU. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain necessary records and provide further medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.,Service connection was granted for diffuse muscle pain due to a MUCMI.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and DDD of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine with sensory neuropathy and radiculopathy (claimed as nerve disorder/neurological signs and symptoms), is presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that any increase in severity occurred during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including a new VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected back disability and address pain during weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing use.

The Veteran's service-connected rod/cone dystrophy and right hip osteoarthritis with pubic ramus fracture are being remanded for updated evaluations due to the passage of time since his last VA examinations in 2017.

The Veteran's polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claims for a bilateral foot disability other than neuropathy and a bilateral ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded due to unclear examiner responses regarding range of motion, potential ankylosis, and the discontinuation of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his intervertebral disc syndrome (previously lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine) is remanded due to inadequate examination and potential flare-ups not adequately addressed.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and lateral instability of the right knee have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on current diagnostic criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and TDIU prior to April 15, 2014 due to insufficient medical opinions addressing these issues. Additional development is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, neck conditions, bilateral knee conditions, joint conditions, and back conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any period of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, left knee status-post ACL repair with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patellofemoral chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis. The conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, and knee conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the direct and secondary service connection bases.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain are also being remanded.