Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

For the period prior to February 25, 2021, your cervical spine disorder is not severe enough for a higher rating.,From September 10, 2018 to February 24, 2021, you are entitled to a 20% rating for your lumbar degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and IVDS.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that her current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to her service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset in service or relation to service exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's service-connected foot and back disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient analysis regarding private treatment records and requests for a VA examination that reconciles these findings with the Veteran's VA examinations.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and another remand is required for the issues of service connection for right wrist osteoarthritis, to include as secondary to service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst; a right arm injury; and a left arm injury.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected psychiatric (anxiety disorder) and left knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back condition is related to service. The VA will need to provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her back disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded multiple times. The case is being returned to the Board due to incomplete development, including missing examination notification letters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability. The AOJ must provide additional development as requested by the Board.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted a separate rating for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, lumbar degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus disabilities combine to meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU beginning May 4, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left shoulder disability, and right elbow disability due to incomplete development of records and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and hip disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from January 12, 2012 to May 28, 2021.

The Board has granted entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, PDD, TB residuals, degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and IVDS of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since February 4, 2010. A separate rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board dismissed all appeals of the veteran's claims for service connection due to his withdrawal of those appeals.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no continuity of symptomatology or etiological relationship between the current disability and an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar spine disability, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 26, 2018. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's initial claim for a 20 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbar disability has been granted. Additionally, a separate 10 percent evaluation for service-connected radiculopathy of the left femoral nerve is also granted.