Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The right calf scar is granted a compensable rating. Service connection for the right and left hip conditions, and dermatitis, remains pending due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's arthritic conditions, including left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and left radioscaphoid arthritis. The non-arthritic cold weather residuals claim is also remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for spinal, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis has been dismissed. The cases for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees have been remanded, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is denied as there is no evidence it was caused or aggravated by service.,Ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis are denied as the current flexion and extension limitations do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received after the January 2021 SOC.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected lumbar disc bulge and right knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and cervical spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease, with disc protrusion and stenosis are granted as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand have been addressed. The hearing loss claim is denied, the right foot disability claim has been granted with a 10% rating, and both knee issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities have been denied. The current ratings of 10 percent are considered appropriate based on the limited range of motion demonstrated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left hip due to inadequate examination reports and failure to provide an estimate of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left hand, right hand, and knee conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 20 percent rating prior to July 16, 2020 and denied for ratings in excess of 20 percent thereafter. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his right shoulder degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher than 20 percent rating prior to November 7, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hand degenerative arthritis, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeal of the ratings assigned for his lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left and right knee osteoarthritis has been dismissed as the award of a TDIU effective March 2, 2012 satisfies the Veteran's appeals.

The Veteran's reduction in rating for lumbar spine disability from 20% to 10% is restored, and her claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for numbness in the lower lip and jaw, increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are remanded.