Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis, finding that it did not manifest during active service or within one year of active service and is not causally related to his active service.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease is related to active service, granted.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) disability is proximately due to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis and shin splints status post ORIF left tibia fracture, granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective July 25, 2017. The other conditions have had their ratings adjusted or granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathies were denied. The Veteran's PTSD, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy were all rated as 10 percent disabling or higher.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and laxity due to a lack of sufficient evidence, including a retrospective medical opinion on functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's right hip disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, is granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected right patellar tendon disability. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened on April 13, 2015, and effective as of that date, he was granted service connection for PTSD, TBI, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of fracture of tooth #10.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence that has not been considered by the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to the untimely filing of his VA Form 9, which was more than 60 days after the issuance of the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and spondylolisthesis. The Veteran needs a new medical opinion addressing whether his disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected thoracic dextroscoliosis.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appeals, including those for disability ratings and service connection. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's low back disability has not been manifested by unfavorable ankylosis or acute signs and symptoms due to IVDS that require bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician for at least six weeks in a 12-month period.,The Veteran's right lower extremity neurological signs and symptoms are due to nonservice-connected diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes); he does not have symptoms attributable to sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with his low back disability that have caused more than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve prior to April 16, 2013, or more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity neurological symptoms are due to nonservice-connected diabetes; he does not have symptoms attributable to sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with his low back disability that have caused more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine are granted. The left knee condition, right knee condition, and chronic headache disability are denied.

The Veteran's back disability is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for cervical stenosis with degenerative arthritis should be remanded to allow the AOJ to consider additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, a back condition, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis have all been denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted a 70% rating from August 31, 2018 to February 10, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a clarifying opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of any current left shoulder disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of right wrist sprain and remanded both issues related to this condition. The rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for his right knee and low back conditions are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS prior to June 11, 2018 were rated at 40 percent effective from that date.