Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable.,Service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and left hip osteoarthritis has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The Veteran contends his current condition is related to an in-service injury, supported by service treatment records and VA examination findings.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her lumbar spine disability was denied. Prior to July 30, 2020, the disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. From July 30, 2020, it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 30 percent rating prior to April 4, 2023 and denied any higher rating. From April 4, 2023, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating than 30 percent. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU from January 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted from April 30, 2014 to April 8, 2020. The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 2, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether he was precluded by his service-connected disabilities from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment in occupations related to his education, training, and work experience.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and effective dates related to his knee conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand injury and lower back injury, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.,Both injuries are considered direct service connections based on their occurrence during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, which may be related to service or secondary to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since April 16, 2015. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is still within the range required for a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for thyroid disability and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service. The appeal regarding other issues is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not affect his ability to dress, feed himself, or attend to the wants of nature. The Board finds that he does not require the aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome. The most probative evidence reflects that this current disability is causally related to active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including strain and degenerative arthritis, is granted as service-connected. Secondary service connection for cervical radiculopathy is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected disabilities during the period on appeal. The issues include increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, right elbow limitation of flexion, right knee limited flexion, and left knee tendonitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative disease and lower back degenerative arthritis with neural foraminal narrowing, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for a cervical spine disability and myofascial pain syndrome are remanded due to incomplete military records. The specific nature of her service-connected disabilities remains under consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a headache disability, and sleep apnea secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for right knee disability, left knee patellar chondromalacia, bilateral foot disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete records.,Pending further clarification from medical experts, these claims will be returned to the RO for consideration.