Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The remaining claims of secondary service connection for right knee, hip, and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the claim for degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine with spondylolisthesis is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted with a 40% rating, and his radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also granted. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable evaluation for sarcoidosis was denied. The Board found that his sarcoidosis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it did not result in persistent symptoms requiring treatment with corticosteroids, cor pulmonale, cardiac involvement, or progressive pulmonary disease.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation prior to March 8, 2022 for tension headaches was denied. The Board found that his headaches did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating as they did not result in characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA examination, and it is requested that another addendum opinion be provided.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection to right knee degenerative arthritis and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle condition due to a withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and migraine headaches have been granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for adjudicative purposes, and thus remanded the case to obtain further clarification on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no causal link between his current knee conditions and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to evidence of possible worsening of his service-connected left knee disability, and a VA examination is needed to assess the current level of severity.

An effective date of October 26, 2011 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Substantive Appeal was timely filed, allowing him to continue pursuing his claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his knee and ankle disabilities have been denied. The left knee disability remains at a 10% rating, while the right knee disability has been decreased to a 0% rating effective March 6, 2023. The right ankle disability continues to be rated as 10%. There is no indication of service connection via a presumption or reopening on new evidence.

The Board dismissed the issue regarding the propriety of reducing ratings for bilateral wrist CTS. The Veteran's right shoulder condition was denied an increased rating, as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side. The Veteran's right ankle DJD was also denied an increased rating due to lack of marked limitation of motion. The Veteran's right wrist CTS was denied increased ratings since April 1, 2014, and November 1, 2014.,The Board found no evidence of marked limitation of motion in the ankle or shoulder that would warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of his right ankle disability and has remanded the issue of increased ratings for his neck disability.

The Veteran's left great toe osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, and calcaneal bursitis are service-connected. A 10 percent rating is granted for the entire appeal period.