Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or within the applicable presumptive period and concluding that the current disorders are not related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left knee disability, low back disability, and hemorrhoids have been denied. The VA has determined that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma and low back disability render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, as he is precluded from obtaining such due to his disabilities. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for higher ratings and service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination for the Veteran's right hip disability due to inconsistencies in the findings and reports from previous examinations.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the September 2021 AOJ decision and has ordered additional development. The claim is remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was aggravated by her service-connected left knee strain.

The Veteran's jaw condition is granted as service connected.,Service connection for residuals of pneumonia is denied.,Right knee disability secondary to right ankle disability is granted.,Bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected.,Sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the jaw condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hepatitis C prior to October 20, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been dismissed. The case is remanded for further development regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disabilities due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination and failure to address certain arguments raised by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia patellae with osteoarthritis due to inadequate examination reports and the need to consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and right humerus open supracondylar fracture was restored to a 30 percent rating effective July 1, 2022.,TDIU was granted beginning January 25, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the AOJ not considering all relevant VA treatment records, including those from March 2022 - April 2022.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied as there is no medical evidence linking his current symptoms to any in-service incident or disability.,For the scar of the right big toe, associated with hallux rigidus with degenerative arthritis, a compensable rating is denied as the scar does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left knee disorder because the Veteran's current diagnoses of left knee joint osteoarthritis and meniscal tear are not considered an additional disability after participation in the CWT program.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist condition, finding that her current diagnosis is not related to her service-connected shoulder disability and there is no evidence of an interrelated cause between shoulder pain and wrist arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are dismissed as the rating decisions awarding his service-connected disabilities became final.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder, heatstroke-related migraines, and low back strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effects of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left foot stress fracture and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the Veteran's osteoarthritis and pes cavus, as well as their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinions regarding secondary service connection for left hip osteoarthritis are inadequate and requires further development of medical opinion evidence.

The Board denied the appeal as the severance of service connection for left foot painful scars was proper, and the rating reduction from 50 percent to 30 percent effective June 1, 2022 for a left foot disorder was also proper.