Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinions were inadequate, necessitating further developments to determine if the Veteran's right ankle disability is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, low back degenerative arthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder with right lower extremity and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his right hip disorder (degenerative arthritis), finding that these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine. The issues of service connection for left and right hip condition and left and right knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on remanded issues are being returned to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and medial meniscus tear are rated at 30 percent, effective throughout the appeal period. A separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability is granted from March 27, 2016 to March 1, 2022, and a 30 percent rating is granted from March 1, 2022.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral knee conditions have been reinstated, but his claims seeking increased ratings are being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis have been denied. The current ratings are deemed appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 8, 2016, for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee with limitation of extension and impairment of instability is granted. The claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for both disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's right hip condition is granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hip pain and credible statements supporting his claim.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of diagnosed disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, shoulder, and hand conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or causation in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service records. The Veteran's right hand disability is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower lumbar, previously evaluated as degenerative arthritis of the spine, was reopened and granted. The effective date is set at May 1, 2018.,Service connection for PTSD was granted with a rating of 70 percent. The effective date for this grant is also set at May 1, 2018.

The Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, along with associated radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, are granted as service-connected.,Separate issues regarding knee disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical records and incomplete evidence. The claims will be further developed with an emphasis on obtaining relevant treatment records, including from VA and private sources.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis with foraminal stenosis, right knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, left knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as the ratings for right and left knee conditions due to deficiencies in the examination reports used to make initial decisions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as to entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including bilateral osteoarthritis and flatfoot, and left foot hallux valgus due to a duplicate docket number. The issues remain with the RO under docket number 18-54 257.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and granted service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability, both found to be proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.