Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and the issue of increased ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for an additional examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for chronic bronchitis, left ankle sprain, PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the left hand and TDIU are remanded due to need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a painful joint disorder (likely rheumatoid arthritis), right hand disorders, back disorders, and right knee disorders. The Board finds that further development is needed in these areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether his right foot fractures were aggravated by his service-connected pes planus with metatarsalgia and osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service, which could impact his claims for hairy cell leukemia and its secondary conditions. The VA will need to conduct further development in this regard.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for a new evaluation considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from January 23, 2013, finding that the Veteran's condition warranted such an increase based on his symptoms and findings at the August 2013 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to evidence showing his service-connected disabilities make him unable to work in a physical environment, and he is not meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and radiculopathy, as well as service connection for a right shoulder condition and neck condition. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from November 17, 2015. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has worsened, and the current assigned rating does not accurately reflect its severity. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the extent of his disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent for the period prior to May 7, 2012 and from October 25, 2017 to February 5, 2018. The appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his disability during other periods on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims due to conflicting diagnoses and insufficient evidence, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require regular aid and attendance, thus denying his claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance by another person.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, including whether it is related to in-service duties and if her service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated her obesity.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 26, 2018 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the left and right hands are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with chronic sleep impairment is granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, migraines, vertigo, left knee disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right ankle disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), left foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right leg varicose veins, and left wrist disorder are also granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,The Veteran's right foot disorder claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on chronicity of symptoms after separation from service.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a link to service.,Service connection for left foot disorder is denied due to lack of in-service event, injury or disease.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is remanded.,Small bowel intussusception claim is remanded.,Headache disorder (including migraine and tension) claim is remanded.,Thoracolumbar spine disorder claim is remanded.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Erectile dysfunction claim is remanded.,Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (claimed as right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, etc.) claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability from June 6, 2008. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new VA medical opinion that addresses the amount in degrees of range of motion lost due to pain and flare-ups experienced by the Veteran.