Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 13, 2017 are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her scar is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the initial rating decision. A new opinion is needed to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his back pain and its continuity since service.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 29, 2015 for the award of service connection for a right knee scar. The decision is based on secondary service connection as the scar is related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee meniscus and ACL tear residuals with osteoarthritis.

The Board has denied a rating for left ankle disability in excess of 10 percent and has remanded the claims for cervicothoracic spine pain, bilateral acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis was denied. The case is remanded for further review of her low back disability and TDIU claim.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits due to service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the failure to refer the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to July 17, 2015, to the Director was an error in satisfying a regulatory duty, as it has a reasonable possibility of aiding in substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for various service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the knees and lumbar spine, left elbow bursitis, and rotator cuff tendonitis of the shoulder. The remand is due to inadequate examination reports that do not provide specific findings regarding range of motion loss due to pain.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or associated objective neurological abnormalities. The current 20% rating is maintained.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement, migraine headaches, internal derangement of the right ankle, major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis with IVDS and strain in the lumbar spine, sciatic radiculopathy in both lower extremities, left knee meniscectomy residuals, and left knee instability was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at June 14, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip strain and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new VA medical opinions that consider his lay statements about the onset of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will consider whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted, and he receives an initial disability rating of 60 percent for GERD. Other conditions receive increased or separate ratings.

An effective date of March 31, 2011, for a 10 percent rating for right and left knee instability is granted.,A TDIU is granted based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors in the rating decisions on appeal for hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, back disability, and sleep disability. The issues of service connection for these conditions will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding no probative medical evidence that indicates the Veteran's current left shoulder condition was incurred during active duty service or during the presumptive period after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected lumbar spine disability caused or aggravated the right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection is now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been secured for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, warranting reconsideration of their service connection claims. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of this decision.