Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the VA examiner's incorrect attribution of his disabilities to post-service employment, rather than service. New examinations are required to determine if his disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis, is granted service connection.,Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted service connection secondary to the Veteran's low back disability.,Service connection for cervical spondylosis with myofascial pain syndrome is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU effective date due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and treatment. The claimant's statements and lay evidence support the continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed due to the filing of a Decision Review Request (NOD) in July 2021, which was not addressed by the AOJ decision in March 2021.

The Veteran's left knee sprain with enthesopathy and osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and left and right knee instability are all rated at the maximum allowable under current VA rating criteria.,VA has denied any increase in ratings for these conditions as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hamstring strain, mild osteoarthritis of the MCP and CMCP (claimed as injured left hand), sinusitis, and left ankle condition due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and bilateral restless leg syndrome have been dismissed as the appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather increased ratings for scars. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition and a right elbow condition are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right ankle conditions.

The appeal concerning the service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine is dismissed. The appeals for tension headaches, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of right upper extremity are remanded.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors in obtaining military personnel and service treatment records from the Veteran's Reserve service, confirming his periods of active-duty, ADT, IDT, and Reserve service, and obtaining SSA records. These claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of his disability rating for left knee joint osteoarthritis was dismissed due to procedural defects, including filing an incorrect form and not timely filing a Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's right hip disability was rated at a maximum of 10 percent prior to April 25, 2022. From that date, the Veteran is granted a single 70 percent rating for intermediate ankylosis.,For degenerative arthritis of the spine, the Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS is being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion. The Board finds that there was insufficient evidence provided by the May 2016 VA examiner, as well as speculative opinions from the private provider.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and right shoulder disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors prior to the January 2022 decision and has ordered additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from the Orthopedic Specialists of Dallas and requesting addendum medical opinions.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted for any period on appeal due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's range of motion did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. A TDIU was granted effective from November 17, 2016 to July 31, 2017.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and degenerative arthritis, paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and sinusitis have all been rated at their maximum allowable levels. The Board finds that none of these conditions warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.