Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for left knee strain and DJD, right flat foot and first MTP joint degenerative changes, and right ankle degenerative arthritis have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee, left knee, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of unfavorable ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability was previously rated at 30 percent, effective March 18, 2019. The RO reduced this rating to noncompensable (0%) effective May 1, 2022, based on the absence of actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has granted the restoration of service connection for six disabilities: left upper leg gunshot wound, left forearm gunshot wound, entry and exit wounds associated with lumbar spine injuries, paralumbar muscles injury, PTSD, and left knee osteoarthritis. The original grant was based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to potential errors in the initial decision. The Veteran's hearing testimony will be considered, and an addendum opinion is required regarding the impact of his hemophilia on his knee conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of osteoarthritis and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, right hip; osteoarthritis, left hip; and spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome, lower back all secondary to right knee. The Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, but no higher.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The decision also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscus tear, limitation of motion with arthritis in the left ankle, and limitation of motion with arthritis in the right ankle. The claims are based on continuity of symptoms since active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbar disc disease. The evidence does not support finding that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right little finger disability was denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or functional impairment akin to amputation, and thus no basis for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the claims for gout and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination.,For lumbosacral strain, right knee degenerative arthritis, fatty liver disease (claimed as hepatitis C), and bilateral hearing loss, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities are inadequate, necessitating a remand to obtain updated medical opinions addressing the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to service.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for muscle disability, claimed as muscle pain due to Gulf War service. The claims for left foot calcaneal heel spur, left hand tendonitis, right hand tendonitis, and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his lumbar spine disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the need for a VA examination addressing ankylosis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral feet, bilateral knee, neck, back and right shoulder disabilities to include as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted an increased rating from August 17, 2019 to October 29, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.