Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to various knee conditions, a scar, special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria, and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected scars and to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including left hand, foot, knee, right hand, ankle, high blood pressure, head injury, depression, and sleep apnea.

The Board restored the 40 percent disability rating for the back disability and denied a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder, ED, left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder, to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty (AD), active duty for training (ADT), and inactive duty for training (IDT) and to obtain additional evidence regarding the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded claims for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis, and asthma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for sciatic nerve conditions and knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current disability levels did not warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis with patellar chondromalacia, as he does not have veteran status for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected right little finger disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected disabilities, has aggravated his right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability for the entire period on appeal, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities were denied due to a failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there was no reasonable possibility that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the ratings and service connection of various conditions, including other reactions to severe stress with persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic disorder, migraines, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative arthritis, as well as sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for an increased initial rating for degenerative arthritis, right knee, as the previous VA examination did not adequately address the Veteran's reported pain, flare-ups, and functional impairments.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck condition, left arm condition, and left hand condition as there is a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection for tibial stress fractures with shin splints and degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for total right knee replacement due to a duty to assist error regarding an inadequate examination report.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of both knees, bronchitis, plantar fasciitis of both feet, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD. The low back condition was remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of rating decisions on the basis of clear and unmistakable error, finding no undebatable errors that manifestly changed the outcomes.