Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hip conditions. Further examination is needed to determine if the hip conditions are related to service, including his in-service duties as a cook.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current osteoarthritis is not related to his in-service injury and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address Veteran's reports of flare-ups.

The Veteran's initial rating for a back disability was denied as his range of motion with forward flexion has been limited at most to 60 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted with a rating of 20 percent effective August 25, 2021. A TDIU has also been added due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle shin splints are granted a 10% rating.,Service connection for the Veteran's back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis and instability have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's back disability and lower extremity radiculopathies have been rated based on their severity, with some separate ratings for specific nerves involved. The initial rating of 40% has been granted from October 14, 2020, to February 27, 2023, for the back disability and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for back injury residuals due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left knee limitation of flexion was denied as the evidence did not show that it resulted in flexion being functionally limited to 30 degrees or less, and extension remained full. The TDIU claim was also denied due to insufficient evidence showing inability to obtain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for blindness, including light perception only, and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Service connection for asthma has also been denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition related to service or undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's bilateral knee instability is granted with separate ratings for right and left knees under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hip disorder due to the lack of evidence of a current disability. The appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran's scoliosis and degenerative disc disease are related to his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and a back disability secondary to bilateral knee osteoarthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for the appellant's lumbar spine disability, effective May 10, 2018. The right shoulder scars are rated at 10 percent since March 24, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee strain and service connection for hearing loss due to scheduling issues with VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 17, 2018, finding that his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to additional evidence added since the April 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case.