Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, lumbar strain, left wrist condition, and right hand tendinopathy due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability claim should be remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it had its onset in service and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, finding that symptoms were chronic in service and continuous since service. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to a disease listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the relationship between the condition and military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee and right foot disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional examination of her disabilities, including an assessment of flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tension headaches, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because she does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU based on a single service-connected disability, as her right hip disability alone does not qualify. The Board found that multiple of her service-connected disabilities contribute to her difficulty in maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to July 26, 2018 is being remanded due to insufficient evidence meeting the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and because there is reasonable possibility that he was unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for traumatic arthritis of the left elbow, left elbow osteoarthritis, and a right knee disability with limitation of flexion. The Veteran's appeal for an increased compensable rating for right knee instability is remanded. Appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy and right lower extremity sciatic neuropathy are also remanded. The TDIU claim is deferred pending adjudication of the above-mentioned issues.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral and left hip osteoarthritis (OA) as caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral knee OA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her left knee, hip, and other conditions.,The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, chronic coughing, acne, menstrual condition, and bilateral shin splints are being remanded as she has not provided clarification on which specific joints her claim relates to.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left shoulder dislocation with osteoarthritis status post repair of RTC tears was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his left shoulder disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the initial rating for left shoulder osteoarthritis was also denied. The Veteran's anxiety condition, sensitivity to bright lights (secondary to migraines), and sinusitis were not granted service connection. Other conditions like hypertension, IBS, and eczema were also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine has been granted.,Both his claims for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, have been remanded.

The Veteran's back brace caused damage to his shirts, leading the Board to grant a clothing allowance for the 2019 calendar year.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ankle degenerative arthritis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy with radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate aggravation medical opinion, and a new one must be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected mild plantar fasciitis, effective June 12, 2019.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to limited motion of 10 degrees of extension.,The Veteran's semilunar cartilage removal of the right knee has been granted a 10 percent rating based on frequent episodes of joint pain and effusion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with the addition of a new VA examination.