Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine prior to September 15, 2015 due to inadequate support for the Board's determination that a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran's abnormal gait is noted in both medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand orders and additional development is required.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50 percent effective March 10, 2022, with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis from April 3, 2015, through December 4, 2018 was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis from December 5, 2018, through March 8, 2021 was also denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's ankle and back disabilities are being remanded for new examinations to assess their current severity, as the evidence suggests they have worsened since his last VA examination in February 2020. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded due to its connection with the ankle and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle sprain is secondary or aggravated by his service-connected conditions. Additionally, the codesheet needs to be corrected to reflect the right ankle disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, cervical spine as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during or was caused by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability present during or within one year after service, and that any current disabilities were not caused by service.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep condition is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective April 9, 2019. The Board has remanded the issue of a higher rating for further examination.,Service connection is granted for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS have been denied. The claim for TDIU has also been dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a right hip condition due to insufficient evidence regarding whether obesity, caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities, is an intermediate step between those disabilities and the Veteran's current right hip osteoarthritis.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC based on housebound status from August 19, 2019 due to his service-connected anxiety with depression associated with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right ankle disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from December 11, 2013 to June 7, 2021 for left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis or a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis resulted in limitation of extension limited to 30 degrees prior to January 9, 2020 and flexion limited to 80 degrees during the appeal period. From March 1, 2021, his hip replacement residuals were rated at 50 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate statements of reasons and bases, failure to provide a retrospective opinion addressing the nature and degree of the Veteran's right knee conditions, and failure to address whether a retrospective right knee examination was warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.