Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all pending claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims for left knee condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea were denied.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition and sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims. As such, all issues on appeal are REMANDED for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected left varicocele, due to incomplete records and need for clarification of etiology. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee osteoarthritis and lateral instability due to inadequate examination findings, specifically missing range of motion measurements in a December 2021 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate reasons and bases in prior decisions, including failure to consider instability and provide proper range of motion testing. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left thumb condition and anxiety disorder, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to Extra-Schedular Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period of appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the spine) have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial employment consistent with his educational background and work history. Therefore, a Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability for the period beginning August 22, 2008 is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a presumptive condition due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,Service connection for congestive heart failure with ventricular arrhythmia, heart block, valvular heart disease, supraventricular arrhythmia, and hypertensive heart disease is granted based on the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative changes with osteophyte formation and left knee osteochondroma with degenerative arthritis prior to specific dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased ratings were granted. Service connection was established for right lower sciatic radiculopathy, but not for other conditions due to lack of evidence supporting exposure to toxic substances. Increased ratings were denied for right ear hearing loss, left knee anterior cruciate ligament partial tear, left knee instability, right fibula fracture (claimed as right ankle condition), and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted service connection, and his bilateral foot fibromatosis is granted an initial increased rating to 30 percent. The shin splints issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis and spondylosis are rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to new evidence submitted after a prior final rating decision. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again as there may be a connection between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis, as well as PTSD with antisocial personality disorder with cocaine use disorder in sustained remission and alcohol use disorder in sustained remission, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in medical records and the need for additional opinions regarding his bilateral knee disorders, acquired psychiatric disability, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, neck, left arm, left finger, and back disorders were not incurred in or caused by service. The disorders were not aggravated by, proximately due to or the result of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for neck disability and entitlement to TDIU prior to May 31, 2017 due to inadequate VA examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo an adequate VA examination that includes estimates for repetitive-use over time and flare-ups with corresponding rationales.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and reduction of his rating are being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence since the February 2020 Statement of Case.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spondylolisthesis was denied, with his appeal being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issue of service connection for a sleep disorder other than insomnia disorder is also remanded.