Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome. The most probative evidence reflects that this current disability is causally related to active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including strain and degenerative arthritis, is granted as service-connected. Secondary service connection for cervical radiculopathy is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected disabilities during the period on appeal. The issues include increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, right elbow limitation of flexion, right knee limited flexion, and left knee tendonitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative disease and lower back degenerative arthritis with neural foraminal narrowing, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for a cervical spine disability and myofascial pain syndrome are remanded due to incomplete military records. The specific nature of her service-connected disabilities remains under consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a headache disability, and sleep apnea secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for right knee disability, left knee patellar chondromalacia, bilateral foot disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete records.,Pending further clarification from medical experts, these claims will be returned to the RO for consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left middle finger injury is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for Barrett's Esophagus associated with irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.,The Veteran's secondary service connection claim for degenerative arthritis, right (claimed as right shoulder condition), to the service-connected disability of left shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine (claimed as back condition) is remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claim for right hip condition (claimed as bilateral hip condition) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and whether there was a post-service event, injury, or illness that caused his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and compliance with prior remand directives.

Service connection for bilateral shin splints is granted. A disability rating of 10 percent is granted for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after service, and that any current back disability is not related to service or his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals seeking increased ratings for his left shoulder and left foot disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding his right knee, left knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee arthroscopy scars.

The Veteran's PTSD due to military sexual trauma is granted as service-connected. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU and do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's vertigo and left knee disability are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The right knee disability is also rated at 10 percent prior to June 24, 2021, but granted an initial rating of 10 percent since that date. The lumbar spine disability remains rated at 10 percent regardless of the effective date.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and non-VA community care treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of right foot fracture has been reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial.,The Veteran's claim for lumbar spine disability, including DDD, has been reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial. The Board finds that the Veteran's condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence indicating possible increases in his service-connected conditions. The cases are being remanded for additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hip, knee, and ankle conditions as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain disability.,An earlier effective date prior to May 31, 2011 for the grant of service connection for psychiatric disability is dismissed.