Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted ratings for right and left knee disabilities, but denied higher ratings. The Veteran appealed these denials to the Veterans Claims Court, which issued a JMPR vacating the denial of higher ratings for limitation of flexion and extension. This decision requires remand to obtain retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of the knee disabilities without medication.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the left wrist and thumb, osteoarthritis of the right wrist, and PTSD due to additional evidence added after the June 2021 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to August 7, 2008 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found no evidence of entitlement to a higher rating.,For the left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, the Veteran was denied ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to April 16, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent from that date onwards. For right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, he was denied ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to April 16, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.,For the right lower extremity femoral radulopathy, the Veteran was denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent from May 6, 2019. For left lower extremity femoral radulopathy, he was also denied such a rating from that date onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The reasons are that new VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck, upper back, and right shoulder disabilities. The VA needs to provide new opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and hip conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to June 17, 2009. The Board has remanded the case for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right shoulder conditions have been denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right hip, left knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a right upper extremity disability and a left shoulder disability, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability. However, these claims are still pending because further development is required.,The Veteran's current theory of service connection is that her disabilities are secondary to a neck disability, which has been granted in the July 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence received since the April 2020 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted a 20% rating, and his left shoulder condition is denied any increase in rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee replacement after June 1, 2018 is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of a service-connected torn medial meniscus with degenerative arthritis prior to April 11, 2017 is remanded.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted service connection. The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding other bilateral lower extremity disabilities and the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and pes planus.

This decision denies service connection for a seizure disorder. The Board has remanded the issues of initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left hips, as well as the TDIU claim due to in-service injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and his right knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran needs further medical evaluation to determine if his current right knee condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The appeal for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), other than migraine headaches is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the left shoulder disability and cold injuries to bilateral lower extremities are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his left knee strain and right knee osteoarthritis and strain have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The appeal for TDIU is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis, and left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder and left ankle osteoarthritis due to a duty to assist error in failing to attempt to obtain treatment records from Orlando Foot and Ankle. The VA is instructed to request authorization for release of medical records at Orlando Foot and Ankle.