Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims due to conflicting diagnoses and insufficient evidence, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require regular aid and attendance, thus denying his claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance by another person.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, including whether it is related to in-service duties and if her service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated her obesity.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 26, 2018 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the left and right hands are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with chronic sleep impairment is granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, migraines, vertigo, left knee disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right ankle disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), left foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right leg varicose veins, and left wrist disorder are also granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,The Veteran's right foot disorder claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on chronicity of symptoms after separation from service.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a link to service.,Service connection for left foot disorder is denied due to lack of in-service event, injury or disease.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is remanded.,Small bowel intussusception claim is remanded.,Headache disorder (including migraine and tension) claim is remanded.,Thoracolumbar spine disorder claim is remanded.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Erectile dysfunction claim is remanded.,Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (claimed as right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, etc.) claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability from June 6, 2008. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new VA medical opinion that addresses the amount in degrees of range of motion lost due to pain and flare-ups experienced by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability, including lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, and degenerative arthritis, had its onset during service and is related to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his orthopedic conditions and diabetes mellitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain is rated at 20% since July 29, 2006. The current rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine remains at 20% from October 24, 2017.,Prior to April 21, 2023, the Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied. From April 21, 2023, the matter is moot as a 100% schedular rating has been assigned with entitlement to Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to questions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is equivalent to ankylosis during flare-ups, passive range of motion, or repetitive use testing due to pain. The AOJ will need to review additional evidence and provide a new rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of left little toe fracture, tinnitus, and bilateral foot metatarsalgia with right foot degenerative arthritis, did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 30, 2017.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 40 percent from June 4, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the lack of evidence of incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a tailbone disability has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent, with no extraschedular rating or TDIU granted. Left hip degenerative changes and residual scars of the chest remain at their current evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and for a TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the September 2020 VA examination report, as well as unclear employment status.

The Board denied entitlement to a compensable rating for the Veteran's left and right foot disabilities, finding that her bunions do not meet the required functional loss criteria.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.

The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion is rated at 20 percent, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 5252. The ratings for limitation of extension and instability are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) and inadequacy of the October 2023 addendum opinion. The SSOC was not issued on the issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, and the addendum opinion did not adequately address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete adjudication, and requires issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).