Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence following an October 19, 2016, left shoulder surgery until November 18, 2016. The case is remanded to determine if an extension of this rating beyond November 18, 2016, is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and spinal stenosis. The appeal regarding left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted service connection, while his left knee joint osteoarthritis remains pending and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of those related to PTSD and a right knee condition.,VA has determined that new evidence received since previous denials supports the Veteran's claims for anxiety, neck/cervical spine condition, degenerative arthritis, dysthymic disorder, fallen arches, herpes, left knee condition, major depression, migraines, and thoracolumbar spine condition. The right knee condition and PTSD remain under consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral foot, hip, wrist, right shoulder and left ankle conditions are granted as direct service connection. The Board finds that these conditions did not manifest during service or are related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist and knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to his time in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted. The claim for IVDS is remanded due to insufficient examination.

The appeal of the proposed reduction from 30 percent to 0 percent for service-connected allergic rhinitis is dismissed. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee bursitis, patella dislocation and degenerative arthritis (previously rated as right knee strain) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural issues and a need for additional evidence. The cervical spine claim is being reconsidered under the AMA framework.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings have been granted, with effective dates of April 24, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to May 14, 2014 is being remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection for depressive disorder with anxious distress, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder. The matter will be reconsidered after these claims are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been denied.,The Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for the awards of service connection or other benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), finding that there was not sufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in previous opinions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining new medical opinions from a different examiner.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% disability rating for migraines is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for migraines is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine and right knee are remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee is remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right foot is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied, with the exception of a partial grant of a 40 percent rating effective April 4, 2017. The case is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, including osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and cervical radiculopathy, was not incurred in or caused by service.,Right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy were also not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's cervical spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and failure to consider certain evidence. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine with DDD L4-5, L5-S1 was granted a disability rating of 10 percent effective July 17, 2017. The claim for an increased rating prior to June 20, 2023, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.