Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right, fifth finger osteoarthritis is denied. The issue of TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's GERD, lumbosacral strain, left hip iliopsoas tendinitis, right hip osteoarthritis and iliopsoas tendinitis, left knee condition to include tendonitis/tendinosis, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for lower back disorder, including degenerative arthritis, status post-laminectomy, and right ankle peroneal tendonitis. The appeals are granted to those extents. Service connection is not established for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right hips, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as secondary to the service-connected lumbar disability. The claim for chronic pain and insomnia are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for scars of the right forehead, left lateral eye, and right upper lip. The acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of head injury, headaches, bilateral eye disability, and low back disorder are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome from June 6, 2008 is being remanded due to the failure to substantially comply with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Board will schedule additional VA examinations to determine the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to July 6, 2021, for service connection of cervical degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and upper extremity radiculopathy were denied.,An effective date prior to January 14, 2022, for a temporary total rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence was also denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and right shoulder strain are granted service connection, while the right shoulder strain issue is remanded for further review.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased ratings for tension headaches, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, DDD of the cervical spine, and voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's left hip disability is rated at 20 percent for limitation of flexion, but not granted a higher rating due to limitations in abduction and extension. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined, meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU effective June 27, 2014. The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 27, 2014 for her TDIU and DEA eligibility.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate loss of range of motion or symptoms to the degree required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, hypertension, and right shoulder condition have all been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The right hip condition, avascular necrosis, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and coronary atherosclerosis are all under review.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, as these conditions are considered manifestations of previously service-connected disabilities. The appeals for type two diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, urinary incontinence secondary to prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer or post-operative residuals of left knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding possible exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee, thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been dismissed due to procedural error.