Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left leg injury, to include degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for residuals of left leg injury, to include degenerative arthritis is denied.,Service connection for incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve (left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability due to issues with compliance and substantial compliance, as well as failure to address relevant evidence of functional loss. The case is also being remanded for additional development including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her left hip disability and service connection for psychiatric disabilities and drug addiction is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic right thigh, hip, and/or groin disorder due to lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA examination and the Veteran's claims regarding her service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder are denied. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and instability, is granted with a separate 20 percent rating for instability. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of her symptoms throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his right knee conditions has been denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for osteoarthritis and instability prior to February 28, 2022, and the current 20 percent rating for instability have not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to toxic substances and stressor events. The cervical spine, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of spine disability has been denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 21, 2018, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. His claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis was remanded due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 30 percent since February 16, 2021. The Board found no evidence of additional functional loss or ankylosis that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 12, 2019.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct, but his death was not the result of a condition that he had been rated as totally disabled for at least 10 years prior to his death. The appeal is remanded to obtain outstanding treatment records.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for cold injury residuals to the feet, lumbosacral strain, gastrointestinal condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for higher evaluations for his cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his spinal conditions, particularly during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, is being reviewed for service connection as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims. The first is for degenerative arthritis of the right elbow, and the second is for a hydrocele that may be secondary to residuals of left inguinal hernia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities to include osteoarthritis. The kidney disability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a meniscus tear prior to partial replacement, is rated at 20% from March 26, 2014, to June 8, 2015. The post-replacement residuals are now rated at 30%, encompassing previous separate ratings.