Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, along with associated radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, are granted as service-connected.,Separate issues regarding knee disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical records and incomplete evidence. The claims will be further developed with an emphasis on obtaining relevant treatment records, including from VA and private sources.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis with foraminal stenosis, right knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, left knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as the ratings for right and left knee conditions due to deficiencies in the examination reports used to make initial decisions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as to entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including bilateral osteoarthritis and flatfoot, and left foot hallux valgus due to a duplicate docket number. The issues remain with the RO under docket number 18-54 257.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and granted service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability, both found to be proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for folliculitis and tinea pedis was dismissed. The claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with radiculopathy to the right upper extremity (previously right arm muscular pain/numbness) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the severity and frequency of flare-ups, as well as inconsistencies in the VA examination reports. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his current right hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits prior to January 30, 2019, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU and that he was not unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain private medical records from Dr. Mayol and for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis, was incurred in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, shoulder, hand, knee, and ankle disorders. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, to include as secondary to her service-connected disabilities. The VA medical opinion is inadequate due to lack of discussion on the Veteran's lay statements regarding her in-service fall and weight distribution.

The Board has remanded the claim for increased rating for right knee disability due to missing private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, knee, hand, wrist, foot, and eye conditions, as well as a psychiatric disability (PTSD), are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation.

The Board found that the appellant's osteoarthritis of the bilateral legs was not caused by VA care or treatment, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her low back disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 19, 2021. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.