Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate findings to warrant such a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a right knee disability was denied, and his lumbar spine disability was granted a 20% rating effective June 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for non-degenerative arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis is denied.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral degenerative arthritis of the feet, and hammer toe of the left foot second toe as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. ,Service connection is granted for osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's claim for gout, other than gout of the fingers and thumbs remains pending due to lack of evidence regarding its onset in service or herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for hammer toes other than the second toe of the left foot is remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, to include arthritis, is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, which is believed to have pre-dated his service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraine headaches.,Effective March 28, 2017, the Veteran's low back disorder was rated at 20 percent and his psoriasis was granted service connection. The radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities were also granted service connection effective March 28, 2017.,The Veteran is denied an earlier effective date for these grants.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate development of his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and radiculopathy. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in total unemployability, as he has not provided specific information about his employment history and income levels.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar spondylosis, as well as bilateral lumbar radiculopathy. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are causally related to an injury during military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his pre-service tibia fracture, has been rated at 30 percent since December 13, 2021. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether any left foot disability is secondary to his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee conditions and for a TDIU prior to December 28, 2011 due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the temporary total rating beyond June 30, 2019, for left knee osteoarthritis following a total knee replacement is denied as there is no legal or factual basis to provide such an extension.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for degenerative arthritis with right myofascial pain syndrome was dismissed because it was considered a prohibited concurrent election.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder condition and a left knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries. Service connection was denied for dental trauma due to lack of evidence showing loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and migraine headaches prior to September 28, 2018 has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition with arthritis is rated at 40 percent, but the Board has remanded this issue due to insufficient evidence. The low back scar associated with the lumbar spine condition is granted a 10 percent rating. Allergic rhinitis remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on current evidence. The Veteran has some occasional restriction of motion but no reports of irregular muscle spasms or reduced strength.,The Veteran's ankle disorders produce occasional pain and slight limitation of motion in both ankles.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot conditions, including hammer toes, metatarsalgia, degenerative arthritis, and plantar fasciitis. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, OSA, HTN, and other conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.