Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease (DDD) as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. The VA is required to provide an addendum opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected knees.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain may have aggravated her current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and thus remands for further development to obtain a medical opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and bilateral foot disorder have been granted.,Evidence received since the April 2020 rating decision, including VA treatment records, a private nexus opinion, and hearing testimony, supports the conclusion that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the initial examination and lack of medical records, requiring further investigation into the Veteran's lower back conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an injury noted during his active service and supported by continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability, to include acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability, to include acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of June 30, 2019 for a 30 percent rating for left foot degenerative arthritis with displacement of the second metatarsal laterally. The Board found that his symptoms and functional impairment increased within a year prior to the June 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for various hand and finger disabilities, as well as hypertension, was denied. The effective dates for service connection were also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus with degenerative arthritis of the MTP joints is rated at 10 percent for each foot, effective September 29, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions.

The Board has found that the VA examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and right upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are inadequate due to a lack of range-of-motion testing during flares. The claims are being remanded for new VA examinations to address these issues.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back spasm, idiopathic urticaria (skin hives), PTSD, and right lower extremity joint issues have been reopened.,Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability.

The Veteran's right hip degenerative arthritis and impairment of thigh with atrophy, as well as his left hip degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion, have been granted initial disability ratings. However, the rating for right hip degenerative arthritis with limitation of extension remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, previously rated as diffuse arthralgias of low back pain, is not currently manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less, unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. As such, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee degenerative arthritis status-post open reduction and internal fixation of distal femur fracture and proximal tibia fracture, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent, effective October 10, 2016.

The Veteran's right hip disability was granted service connection and a rating of 70% effective November 13, 2019. Service connection for low back degenerative arthritis was also granted.

The Veteran is eligible for special monthly compensation (SMC) prior to December 5, 2019 and from July 1, 2021 due to his cervical spine disability. His other service-connected disabilities have a total combined rating of 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided that the issue of whether the Veteran's right elbow tendonitis is related to his service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the shoulder and radiculopathy, needs further clarification. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion from a clinician.