Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, including left knee limitation of motion, low back strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative arthritis, right shoulder tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and raticulopathy left lower extremity. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's obesity caused or aggravated his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, which in turn caused or aggravated his OSA.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than November 15, 2002 for service connection of bilateral foot degenerative arthritis and bilateral hand sprains were denied as the law does not allow for an earlier effective date based on final disallowance.

The Board has identified a duty to assist error and remands the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine due to an inadequate VA examination opinion. The Veteran's work as a combat engineer is being evaluated again.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces, used to treat his service-connected left and right knee conditions, caused wear and tear on his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for calendar year 2020 based on this finding.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation with osteoarthritis and glenohumeral joint dislocation, effective September 2, 2020. The issue of service connection prior to that date remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's osteomyelitis and his service-connected left zygoma fracture. The appellant asserts that the cause of death was related to the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for initial increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle and associated right leg length discrepancy due to a withdrawal request by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the examination and lack of consideration of certain evidence, including private treatment records from Albany, Georgia.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, and right knee disability. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.,There was no indication of an association between the claimed conditions and toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has remanded the claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of adequate examination regarding the severity of symptoms during flare-ups.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted based on her service-connected migraines. The combined rating of all service-connected disabilities is at least 60%, meeting the criteria for SMC housebound.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his bilateral wrist, hand, knee, and cervical spine disabilities. The VA is required to provide a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active service.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified anxiety disorder, concluding that there was no causal relationship between his current mental health condition and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the January 2021 decision on appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the adequacy of the medical opinion provided by the VA examiner. The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to his service-connected cervical strain and related conditions, requires further clarification from an appropriate medical professional.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain, finding that these conditions are related to active service.