Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an examination and additional opinions regarding the Veteran's left foot disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, and bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus and degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his time in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lower lumbar spine and generalized anxiety disorder, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and SMC at the housebound rate due to incomplete development of records, including obtaining VA medical treatment records since March 2003. A new VA opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions.

The appeal to restore the rating for right knee strain with osteoarthritis and slight recurrent patellar dislocation was denied, while a separate 10 percent rating for right knee patellar subluxation from May 24, 2017, was granted. An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches from April 7, 2016, was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis/degenerative disc disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his range of motion was within the limits specified for a 10% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs additional medical opinion regarding whether the right knee osteoarthritis is aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her left ankle disability was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar and left knee disabilities, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple shoulder, elbow, neck, and hand disabilities as the evidence does not show any in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability (other than left anterior cruciate ligament repair) and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis and instability, finding the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle condition, including osteochondritis dissecans and osteochondral fracture with degenerative arthritis, finding that his symptoms are related to his active-duty service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and other disabilities. The earliest effective date assigned was October 28, 2020.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in August 2018 and July 2020 were inadequate for assessing the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. As a result, the claim is being remanded to obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's range of motion.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination and to provide the Veteran's representative with the curriculum vitae of the June 2015 examiner.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various joint disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back condition, including degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and lumbar strain, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis and bilateral Osgood Schlatter's disease to obtain an adequate medical opinion.