Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new in-person VA examination is needed to determine the appropriate rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee tendonitis with degenerative arthritis. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate examination and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and migraine headaches, including as secondary to PTSD. The remand is due to inadequate medical opinions on previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is granted as March 9, 2020. The Board found the Veteran was permanently and totally disabled on that date.

The Veteran's retroactive VA compensation benefits totaling $19,171.00 and $13,421.00 were properly paid via direct deposit to his bank account at Comerica Bank in 2012. The appeal is denied as the Veteran did not receive these payments.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder strain, lower back pain, right foot pain, left foot pain, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Service connection is denied for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is static and does not show material improvement for more than five years, thus making a permanent rating possible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to potential pre-decisional duty to assist errors in obtaining adequate VA opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision, leaving no issues for review.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, anxiety, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle, and osteoarthritis of the right hip as secondary to pes planus (severe), hammer toes, hallux valgus.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to pes planus (severe), hammer toes, hallux valgus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection and insufficient evidence to support presumptive service connection. The Board also found conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the condition is secondary or aggravated by his service-connected hallux rigidus.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and a psychiatric disability (depressive disorder). The Veteran's current diagnoses of left knee strain, degenerative arthritis, and depressive disorder are supported by the evidence. The Board found that there is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during service.,The decision also notes that the Veteran reported symptoms such as pain and anxiety during service, which may have contributed to his current psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post traumatic headaches, right shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability evaluation and service connection due to inadequate examinations, including those related to her left ankle and low back pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a digestive/bowel disability, and the evidence did not support her claim that she has an acquired psychiatric disorder or right hand carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's knee and cervical spine disabilities, including effective date determinations and initial disability ratings. The TDIU claim was also remanded for due process development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's left hip, bilateral knees, and foot disabilities. The examiner must determine if these conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

Service connection has been granted for broken nose, facial scars, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, TBI, right ankle pain, sleep apnea as secondary to broken nose, and acquired psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's service-connected broken nose is linked to an in-service injury.